Volodymyr Kuzovkin’s office is less than 50 miles from the European Union, but for him and his factory, the EU is a world away.Despite Ukraine’s desperation to integrate with Europe, a desire so strong it sparked the protests that ousted pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych last year, much of Ukrainian business remains wedded to Soviet-era practices even as it is buffeted by a very modern economic crisis.Ukraine is hoping to improve links between its heavy industry and European markets to help the economy recover. But for companies like Kuzovkin’s Lviv State Jewelry Factory in western Ukraine, the challenges are huge.Trade with …read more
Source: The Jakarta Post
