BUDUCHNIST CREDIT UNION PARTICIPATES IN CANADIAN TRADE DEVELOPMENT MISSION TO UKRAINE
July 12, 2014 - Kyiv, Ukraine - BCU Financial Group, the corporate umbrella of Buduchnist Credit Union (BCU) -- Ontario's largest ethnic-based credit union and Canada's largest Ukrainian financial institution, was invited to join the Hon. Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade Canada's Minister of International Trade on a three-day trade development mission to Ukraine, from July 9-12.
BCU was represented in the delegation by its President and CEO, Oksana Prociuk.
"BCU welcomes the initiative taken by the Government of Canada and Minister Ed Fast, to strengthen trade ties between our two countries," Oksana Prociuk said, following the opening remarks at a dinner for the Canadian delegation hosted by Canada's Ambassador to Ukraine, His Excellency Troy Lulashnyk.
The comprehensive program of bilateral meetings during the visit included discussions with the Minister of Economic Development and Trade, the Hon. Pavlo Sheremeta, the Minister of Energy and Coal, the Hon. Yuri Prodan, the Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food, the Hon. Ihor Shvaika, and the Minister of Education and Science, the Hon. Serhiy Kvit.
Minister Fast was accompanied by three Canadian Members of Parliament, James Bezan (Selkirk- Interlake, Manitoba) Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence; Ted Opitz (Etobicoke Centre, Ontario), Chair of the Canada-Ukraine Parliamentary Friendship Group; and Mark Warawa (Langley, British Columbia) and former Chair, Canada-Ukraine Parliamentary Friendship Group.
In addition to the bilateral meetings focusing on trade, BCU President and CEO, Oksana Prociuk, joined the Minister and members of the delegation at a flower-laying ceremony paying respect to the fallen heroes of the EuroMaidan at the Maidan Square in Kyiv.
"The members of Buduchnist Credit Union and its member-supported BCU Foundation have raised over half a million dollars in humanitarian assistance in support of the Maidan, the families of the fallen heroes, as well as those injured by terrorist attacks in Eastern Ukraine."
Oksana Prociuk, joined by the Canadian member representative of the International Council in Support of Ukraine, Lisa Shymko, held additional meetings with a number of government officials, including the Hon. Pavlo Sheremeta, Minister of Economic Development and Trade, to discuss the role Canadians can play to strengthen Ukraine's economic growth, development, and security.
"As CEO of BCU, which has a sizeable number of small and medium-size businesses as its members, this mission provided an opportunity to assess the business environment that is currently being restructured by Ukraine's new government," Oksana Prociuk stated. Canada's commitment to Ukraine will play an essential role to ensure that Ukraine establish economic security and find its rightful place in the family of democratic European nations at a time when Russia continues to employ military aggression to destabilize the entire region.
Business and NGO members of the Minister's Delegation:
Leonard Derkach, Business Council of Manitoba
Ivan Fecan, Exec. Chairman, Thunderbird Films
Bob Kozminski, Business Council of Manitoba
Bohdan Onyschuk, Past President, Canada Ukraine Foundation
Zenon Potichny, President, Canada-Ukraine Chamber of Commerce
Oksana Prociuk, President and CEO, Buduchnist Credit Union; Director, BCU Foundation
Lisa Shymko, President, League of Ukrainian Canadian Women; Chair, Canada-Ukraine
Parliamentary Centre
Taras Sokolyk, CEO, Shape Foods
Taras Zalusky, Exec. Director, Ukrainian Canadian Congress
