How the relationship started
The partnership was established during the launch of Ernest Airlines on the Italy↔Ukraine corridor. What began as a marketing and route development collaboration evolved into a structured presence at the embassy.
What the committee did during COVID
The committee’s structure proved unexpectedly useful during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Italian-Ukrainian operator network ran evacuation logistics, sourcing of medical supplies, and coordination of returning workers — the same lines later activated during the first months of the full-scale war in Ukraine.
What I do on the committee today
My current role is to promote the Made in Ukraine brand into Italian markets and to establish new trade relations between Italy and Ukraine. Specifically, the work is about connecting Ukrainian producers — via Faktorist and direct introductions — with Italian importers, distributors, and retailers.
Why Italy matters
Italy is one of the largest manufacturing economies in Europe. Ukrainian producers in apparel, leather, agri-food, and specialty industrial work are increasingly competitive at the Italian quality bar. The committee is the most efficient surface I’ve found for closing those gaps — embassy meetings put the right counterparties in the same room without the cold-outreach cycle that kills most cross-border B2B.