The Canada-Ukraine Chamber of Commerce was incorporated under Canadian law and began its operations in 1993.

In 1994, the Canada-Ukraine Chamber of Commerce signed an “Agreement on Trade and Commerce” with the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Trade.  Over the course of the next five years, the Chamber grew to include dozens of Canadian and Ukrainian companies with CUCC operated offices in Toronto, Canada and Kyiv, Ukraine.  However, because of the business instability in Ukraine after it had declared its independence in 1991 and the general lack of the government’s advancement of business legislation, the Chamber found itself in the position of having to cut back its operations progressively until, in 1999, the Chamber became dormant and suspended its operations indefinitely.

Early in 2005, after the election of a democratic government in Ukraine, the promise of viable business opportunities and a supportive business environment became apparent.  At that time, a group of distinguished Canadian businessmen that included a number of original CUCC members decided to attempt to resume the activities of the Chamber.

On March 23, 2005, a general meeting of some 60 business people met in Toronto, Canada, affirmed their commitment to the initiative and resolved to proceed with re-instituting the Chamber.  A re-energized Board of Directors comprising 30 members was elected and it immediately acted to initiate and implement new business plans.  Among its first actions, the Board appointed an Executive Committee to manage the day-to-day operations of the Chamber.  Subsequently, John Znaczko was elected the first President of the reconstituted Canada-Ukraine Chamber of Commerce.

The renewed interest in having an effective Chamber is attributed to the optimism of Canadian business, the promise of significant benefits both to the Canadian and Ukrainian economies and the positive dialogue between Canadian interests and their counterparts in Ukraine at various business and political levels.

Initially, more than forty companies became members of the revitalized Chamber.  Over the years, the number of member companies has grown at an encouraging rate reflecting the continuing interest both in Canada and Ukraine in developing business ties between the two countries. This prompted the Toronto-based CUCC to open a branch in Edmonton, Alberta in 2008.   In May, 2009, the CUCC was honoured to have the Governor General of Canada, the Honourable Mich?lle Jean,  open the offices of the CUCC affiliate in Kyiv, the Canada-Ukraine Trade Association.  Future plans include an office in Atlantic Canada (Halifax) as well as branches in a number of other provinces in Canada.

In order to reaffirm the very favorable business relationship between the business communities in Canada and Ukraine, the Canada-Ukraine Chamber of Commerce negotiated and signed a “Joint Cooperation Agreement” with the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in May of 2005.  The Agreement outlines six major areas of cooperation in which the two bodies have committed to establish practical working relationships.

On November 28, 2006, the Canada Ukraine Chamber of Commerce signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with the Ukrainian Centre for Foreign Investment Promotion (Kyiv), a government sponsored agency accountable to the President and mandated to attract investment in business institutions in Ukraine

We have established and cultivated government contacts both in Canada and Ukraine as well as having a presence in the business communities of both countries.  We have organized successful Business Forums in Canada to promote bilateral trade and investment opportunities and have actively participated in similar events on Ukrainian soil.

Over the years, the Chamber has enjoyed considerable success in taking on initiatives of increasing complexity and sophistication and has set a course to continue in similar efforts such as it’s role in the Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Talks and the lead taken in mobilizing Central Eastern European countries including Poland, Estonia, Lithuania and Slovenia to establish a position of strength in promoting trade and investments between the member countries and Canada.