Ukraine's path to global expansion: why the agribusiness sector should prioritize end products for success.

Ukraine has the potential to become a leader not only in raw material production but also in the creation of finished products.

This was discussed during the panel discussion titled “How to successfully develop not only in Ukraine but also to enter and establish a presence in foreign markets?” at the Mind Export Summit 2025.

“We must become the largest producers of finished products, rather than just exporting raw materials. This will enable Ukraine to earn more in international markets,” stated Ihor Lisky, the majority investor of the company “Fidnova.”

Lisky shared the achievements of the company “Fidnova,” which produces proteins and honey and exports its products to 25 countries worldwide. According to him, the honey brand “Bykhayf” has already become a leader in Qatar and is also successfully sold in Saudi Arabia, Spain, and the United Kingdom.

Meanwhile, Kateryna Spi vakova, Director of Communications and Government Relations at Kernel, shared the accomplishments of the company, which is the largest sunflower oil producer in the world, holding a 10% share of the global market. She emphasized that Ukraine plays a crucial role in ensuring global food security: “We are a significant part of the global market, and due to our geographical location and fertile soils, we will always be leaders in grain and oil exports. This is an important mission for stability in the world.”

Spi vakova also noted that 75% of oil exports from Ukraine are bulk oil, 20% is meal, and only 5% is bottled oil. However, she emphasized the need to create more added value so that Ukraine can earn more by exporting finished products.

Alla Teliha, co-founder of the “Halia Baluvana” network and Wesoła Pani, spoke about the successful expansion of her franchise network beyond Ukraine. According to her, the company already has 950 stores in Ukraine and is actively operating in the Polish market, where it has opened 143 stores. Teliha stressed the importance of adapting products to local tastes:

“When we entered Poland, we realized that we needed to adapt our products to local preferences. Instead of dumplings with Ukrainian ingredients, we started using Polish raw materials while maintaining the Ukrainian production technology.”

She also talked about a new franchise project – the network “Family Cheburek ‘Tsiberek,’” which has already launched in Ukraine.

Background. Previously, Mind reported that foreign investors are hesitant to invest in Ukraine due to a poor investment climate – said the director of STE. “Technologies are becoming outdated. Engineering ideas are moving forward,” emphasized Petrov.