The Business Advisory Council meeting went well. All the CEOs from the various countries gave their frank ideas about what needs to be done to enable Western businesses to invest in Ukraine.
Surprisingly, many companies have stayed in Ukraine (McDonald’s, for instance, has more stores there now than they did before the war started and is still opening new ones up). In fact, that’s one of the things we learned. Despite the war, Ukraine’s economy is actually growing.
Me in Kyiv last week, trying to grab a quick Big Mac. However, because of the increased Russian attacks on infrastructure there, they have to withstand frequent periods without electricity. Tough living with no power. And, with winter coming, energy was one of the top issues of the G7 Recovery and Reconstruction Conference.
The first person to address the BAC was Yulia Svyrydenko, First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine and Minister of Economy. She outlined the tough situation they face daily, but even more so, the strength, resilience, and ingenuity that Ukraine has displayed since the start of the war. It is clear to see from her and the other government officials here that Ukrainians are doing the fighting and dying to stop this aggression here and now (rather than have it continue westward) and just need the support of the democratic nations of the world.
First Deputy Prime Minister, Yulia Svyrydenko, sitting next to BAC Chairman, Christian Bruch, giving her open remarks to the Business Advisory Council.
The group at work
Proud to represent. One of the other reps from the US is Steve O’Bryan, of Northrup Grumman, the Technology/Defense company.
Secretary Penny Pritzker, US Special Representative for Ukraine’s Economic Recovery was the lead US rep for this conference, and her was discussing the efforts with leading Ukraine government officials
The BAC’s work was completed and we will follow up with further communications and meetings. We have our work cut out for us and will endeavor to make the case that it is important to invest NOW, and not wait if possible.
One thing Secretary Pritzker is working on is getting more air defense committed so that other parts of the country can be better protected. And, the 3 US CEOs will be sending a letter to the administration asking them to better identify the actual major danger zones (by region) so that company reps can travel more easily to Ukraine and see for themselves that in a large part of the country, life goes on as usual, and though “at war,” the whole country is not a war zone. Would be good for other business leaders to be able to see that for themselves. I think there is a misconception about how things are there.
I know when people heard Derek and I were going to Ukraine, they all asked, “Aren’t you scared?” But, honestly, in a week, we did not see many signs of war. It’s like if there was fighting in New Jersey, how endangered would folks in Chicago or LA feel?
Ukraine is a big country, and businesses CAN be there now (and many are). As I said, their economy is growing. They are looking forward to a “Western” future and doing the fighting and dying-just asking for our support.
Well, I was going to try and do this in “time delay”, but figured I’d cover the Berlin conference as it happens, and then go back to our visit to Ukraine afterwards.
I was one of three CEOs nominated by U.S. Secretary United States Special Representative for Ukraine’s Economic Recovery, Penny Pritzker, to represent our country on the newly created Business Advisory Council (BAC) for the G7’s Ukraine Reconstruction effort.
The conference in Berlin brings together the donor nations and other critical partners to determine how to best support Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction.
The BAC includes CEO and senior leaders from the UK, the EU, Netherlands, Japan, S. Korea, Norway, Sweden, Italy, Germany, France, 3 from Ukraine, and 3 from the USA–McDonald’s, Northrop Grumman, and Logistics Plus.
Our aim is twofold, I believe. 1. To help Ukraine better improve/westernize “business conditions” so that more Western companies will invest, and 2. To help let Western businesses know that conditions in most of Ukraine (even with the war going on) are relatively safe and that you can do business there now. You don’t have to wait until this war ends to invest.
The council is run by Dr. Christian Bruch, Chairman and CEO of Siemens, the giant energy firm (and energy is one of the key needs in Ukraine that needs to be addressed.) More on that later. Smart. Well-spoken. Thoughtful. He runs a tight ship and is much younger than I pictured him (he’s in the first picture below).
Seems to me that Dr. Bruch is the right guy to lead this effort from the beginning.
In the realm of global logistics, effective collaboration across borders is crucial. A stellar example of this is the successful partnership between Logistics Plus Brazil and Logistics Plus Egypt, which has set a benchmark for operational excellence and customer satisfaction.
The partnership began in 2023 when Logistics Plus Brazil contacted their Egyptian counterparts. The motive was clear and urgent: a Brazilian customer needed reliable and efficient handling of frozen food shipments originating from Egypt. Recognizing the complex requirements of shipping perishable goods internationally, both teams quickly mobilized to create a seamless logistics framework.
Over the year, the collaboration successfully shipped over 150 containers of frozen food from Egypt to Brazil. This endeavor was not just about moving goods but ensuring they arrived in perfect condition, adhering to the strictest health and safety standards. The teams coordinated every aspect of the logistics process, from warehousing and inventory management in Egypt to transportation, customs clearance, and final delivery in Brazil.
The constant communication between the teams in Brazil and Egypt made this partnership exceptionally productive. Regular updates, combined with an in-depth understanding of the logistics landscape in both countries, ensured that each container was handled precisely. The teams leveraged their local expertise to navigate regulatory environments and logistical challenges, ensuring timely deliveries despite the complexities involved.
As we look to the future, this partnership is a model for other offices within the Logistics Plus global network. It underscores the company’s vision of a truly interconnected global logistics operation where challenges are met with innovative solutions and unmatched teamwork.
Are you interested in learning more about how Logistics Plus Egypt or Logistics Plus Brazil handles global shipping and logistics? Contact either of our teams at egypt@logisticsplus.com or brazil@logisticsplus.com to learn more.
This multi-state public diplomacy initiative in support of Ukraine’s victory, recovery, and reconstruction is a partnership between the German Marshall Fund, the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, and Farm Journal. This whistlestop tour, headlined by GMF President Heather A. Conley and Howard Buffett, will foster conversations on how the war in Ukraine affects local, national, and global communities.
You can watch the video below or on the German Marshall Fund YouTube channel.
Saturday, June 1st took off from JFK to Munich for the transfer to the flight to Rzeszow, Poland.
Long flight, but got about 5 hours sleep, so not all that tired when I got there. At the Munich airport lounge, I discovered the long-missing Tony Soprano enjoying his breakfast. Shhhhh. Please don’t tell anybody…
And, for you soccer fans, I walked by this store in the Munich airport:
From there, I flew to Rzeszow, Poland, where LP has been present for over 25 years. There, I had a wonderful dinner with Pawel Wronski, who has been with LP from the beginning. It was great to see him. He is a special guy and always fun to be with.
Pawel took me to a great local restaurant in the city center for a DELICIOUS bowl of Polish borscht and then pig knuckles that were also delicious.
A quick but worthwhile stop. I actually flew out a day early, so I would have a few hours in Rzeszow to see Pawel. I would have hated to rush from the plane to the train without getting to see him. If I had left on Sunday, that’s what would have happened. But this way, I got a good night’s sleep Sunday night in the airport hotel, had this great dinner with him, shared some stories and good laughs, then got picked up to head to the train station for our ride into Kyiv.
In normal times, that would be a short flight. But as we too well know, these are not normal times there, so air travel is non-existent. Instead, it’s an 8-10 hour trip by train.
In the realm of global logistics, effective collaboration across borders is crucial. A stellar example of this is the successful partnership between 
The constant communication between the teams in Brazil and Egypt made this partnership exceptionally productive. Regular updates, combined with an in-depth understanding of the logistics landscape in both countries, ensured that each container was handled precisely. The teams leveraged their local expertise to navigate regulatory environments and logistical challenges, ensuring timely deliveries despite the complexities involved.
