The American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine presents the results of its Survey "Doing Business during War in Ukraine". It helps to understand the current state of business and identify more needs and ways to help and support member companies during the war Russia started against Ukraine.
113 CEOs and top managers of AmCham member companies took part in the Survey, conducted on March 17 – March 18, 2022. 71% of the respondents are CEOs.
Despite Russia's full-scale invasion to Ukraine, 88% of companies continue operating in Ukraine: 45% work partially, 18% relocated within Ukraine, 16% of members are fully operational, 6% closed their offices in some regions. 12% of businesses had to stop operations, 6% of which had to shut down totally.
95% of AmCham Ukraine member companies continue to pay salaries during the war: 65% of them pay full salary and provide extra support, 26% pay full salary, 8% - partially reduced salary, 1% - pay a minimum wage. Only 1% could not pay salaries at all.
92% of respondents indicate that their organizations provide support to the humanitarian drive. The most common ways of support are financial support (42%), providing in-kind goods (24%), and volunteering drive within the companies' employees (14%).
AmCham member companies also support Ukraine's territorial defense units and defense forces (65%): 40% of members indicated that some of their employees joined the territorial defense units, 24% of companies provide financial support, another 24% - provide goods and medicines.
The business representatives were asked to indicate the biggest challenges for their organizations right now. Safety and security of employees (79%), logistics and transport (49%), export-import operations (21%) were identified by business representatives as the top-3 major challenges. Among others are relocation (16%), access to financing (6%), and access to raw materials (6%).
86% of respondents support the call by Ukraine's Foreign Minister for a global boycott of international companies that have kept their operations open in Russia.
AmCham Ukraine also asked companies how may the international business community and their HQs impact to stop the war. The business believes that termination of business operations and exerting pressure on Russia and Belarus, calling and lobbying for wider and more comprehensive economic sanctions on these countries will give positive results. Moreover, the business community considered it necessary to use the global networks to raise awareness and attract attention to the war in Ukraine, increasing pressure on governments in Europe and throughout the world to stop the war. AmCham Ukraine companies encourage HQs to support their employees in Ukraine and communicate with top-level authorities on their country level to provide multifaceted support to Ukraine (financial, humanitarian, etc.). Business also calls on colleagues to try to keep operations in Ukraine, to pay taxes and salaries to employees, thus supporting Ukraine's economy.
Andy Hunder, President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine, said: "88% of AmCham Ukraine members continue operating in Ukraine during the war. 86% - support the global boycott of international companies that have kept their operations open in Russia. Business is united and fighting for Ukraine's future and freedom by defending, volunteering, and supporting this great country where we all live and work in. This brings us closer to victory day by day."
Full Results of the Survey are available here.
About the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine:
The American Chamber of Commerce is Ukraine's most powerful international business association that has been serving members in Ukraine since 1992, delivering the shared voice of US, international and Ukrainian companies, who invested over $50 bln in Ukraine and remain committed to the country till today, during the war. For more information, please visit our website https://chamber.ua/ and #StandWithUkraine page with daily updates on how you can help Ukraine and Ukrainians during this significant time of need https://chamber.ua/news/standwithukraine/
