Acceptance??

[Johnson123]

Will the European Union accept Ukraine open-heartedly? That's a good question and one that will be hard to answer.
I see Europe as ruled by England Monetarily and also see investment from Australia and Canada happening in Ukraine with offshore accounts.
Seems the taxation countries of Europe have subjects who choose not to be taxed by the Union ?? Hmmm...what ya think??

[Phillip]

I'd like to think Australia was a big investor in Ukraine - we float around 2-3 in England for investors, but I don't know those facts for sure. I'd say the US was bigger in that department, however - I agree if your point is to make the best of the 'now'.

My uncle invested alot in the Ukraine, but as yet he doesn't want me over there acting for him :-(

Look for your friends everywhere - the world is smaller now and boats full of cargo's move fast and money moves much faster.

I think you get my point already - cheers

Phillip

[johnstruthers]

The EU has real mixed feelings about Ukraine. They understand one thing: When (not if) Ukraine gets its act together, it will rule Europe. It has the best educated population, and unbelievable natural resources. The EU, for all its free trade noise, is already actively keeping Ukrainian products from crossing borders. Poland understands this clearly, and there is a lot of respect coming from those quarters now. Ukraine is bigger than France, has 50 million people, and sits smack-dab between east and west. Watch our smoke.

[Phillip]

hmmm,

Why else do you think I'm here...

[Phillip]

Given that just about everybody from Ukraine that I know is studying economics you may be right.

I think you need investers and I doubt weather the nationalist pride I am witnesing here would allow for that.

In other words, I don't imagine many people here would appreciate foreign ownership etc, though I respect what you say about the EU.

[johnstruthers]

There are problems lining up investors, Phil. There were all manner of western firms arriving in Kiev when the USSR fell. There is no political risk insurance available for American investors, and world bank had a loan program that was almost designed to invite the bad guys to the table. Investors are invited, they just don't stay . It's much more complicated than that, but it is also true that Ukraine under Kravchuk was pretty slow to do things that made investment sensible. Kuchma is doing a few things, and deserves a chance. The full-blooded free marketeers made some pretty strange demands of the place through World Bank. All that is past, but it's a slow process still. Someday...

[Phillip]

When I say nationalistic pride I am just having a dig.

I am talking about some sort of ignorance...

I appreciate your sane response. I believe the potential in the Ukraine is great. You can expand on your point anytime. I am very interested,

Phillip