FOLLOWING A COUPLE OF YEARS of research and business trips to Ukraine, Viasat set up offices in Kiev last January.
- We chose to establish a joint venture with a key TV operator in Ukraine, which worked very well. By doing this, we reduced risks and we have a partner with great local knowledge and experience. But everybody have a different view on joint ventures. The most important thing is to get a reliable partner.
ACCORDING TO Erik Björkman, getting assistance from local actors is most essential when expanding abroad. Collaborating with a partner born and raised in the country plus a non-citizen who has worked and spent many years in the country, is the perfect mix.
- The non-citizen partner may have a different view on the local market than the Ukrainian partner, which is very positive.
TO GO IT ALONE when setting up business abroad is not to be recommended, says Erik Björkman.
- Even if you chose to do it on your own, without a joint venture, you should always consult experts on how to set up business in that particular country. You should also hire local employees to a large extent. They know the business culture, the market and have the business contacts.
However, hiring Ukrainian personnel is not always easy, Erik Björkman experienced. Many individuals exaggerate in their CVs and getting a university degree through bribes is not unusual. To find the right personnel in Ukraine, you need a recruitment firm, explains Erik Björkman.
- We have three to four recruitment firms assisting us, among them the swedish owned company Clarus Eastern Europe. They will verify CVs and interview applicants.
IN GENERAL, most people are excessively worried and hesitant about setting up business in Ukraine, says Erik Björkman.
- The political risk is not as big as many believe. The Ukraine market is huge and there are enormous opportunities in this country. I believe that, in 10-15 years, Ukraine will be where Poland is today.
Erik Björkman encourages Swedish companies to go to Kiev to discover that it is not that strange and scary.
Emelie Ring