An informative meeting with the newly appointed Business Ombudsman of Ukraine – Amb. Roman Waschuk, which the Canada Ukraine Chamber of Commerce initiated, took place today.
The Business Ombudsman Council (BOC) office is the first point of contact for companies seeking redress against unfair treatment. BOC also advocates for the transparency of business practices. It is also worth noting that the Council is being funded from the Ukraine Stabilisation and Sustainable Growth Multi-Donor Account (MDA) managed by the EBRD.
During a lively discussion, participants, mostly members of the International Council of Business Associations and Chambers, had an excellent opportunity to exchange views on business climate and challenges foreign investors and local businesses face in Ukraine and to better understand the BOC mandate and structure.
The Business Ombudsman Council is committed to protecting legal rights of all business entities operating in Ukraine.
‘’In addition to considering individual complaints, we are addressing major systemic business issues that companies face and bring to us. In 2021 alone, we processed over 2000 of appeals and helped businesses save and refund UAH 2,3 bn (USD 88 mln)’’– said Mr. Waschuk
Participants were heads of bilateral chambers of commerce (Austria, Canada, France, Turkey, China and the UK), the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Ukrainian World Congress.
“The Business Ombudsman Council has a devoted and respectable leader and with his guidance BOC will be a great resource for business associations and its members wishing to operate in a favorable and fair business environment” – said Z. Potichny, President of Canada Ukraine Chamber of Commerce.
