MOVING UKRAINE ALONG GLOBAL VALUE NETWORKS: CASE OF AGRICULTURE

Abstract

The relevance of the subject is explained by the place Ukraine takes in World and regional production of agricultural products. It was shown that Ukraine suffers from the fact that it produced and exports mostly raw materials and semifinished products which humpers perspectives of further development of whole sector of Ukrainian economy. Additional tension is evoked by the European legislation requirements and respective obligations taken by Ukrainian government regarding standards applied to agricultural products and general tendencies towards globalization of production. Therefore, it was stated that Ukraine should simultaneously meet two goals – one is to develop main principles on how to manage agriculture production as to protect national interests, another one is to define the role of Ukraine as an operator at the international market for the sake of international and global interests and challenges. The goal of the paper was to assess which place is given to agriculture and to global value chains by international agreements which are of most interest for Ukraine. As a result of the research it was suggested for Ukraine developing cooperation in the field of agricultural production in the framework of creation or developing of regional value chains via using potential of already ratified regional agreements with specific SCO member states, such as: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan to makes bridges with Balkans, Baltic countries, South Caucasus, South of Africa mimicking at some extent and complementing Belt and Road Initiative. It was recommended to promote the idea of extensive regionalization of GVNs in front of Ukrainian western counterparties owing to the fact that the investment presence from western European countries (Germany, Netherlands, France etc.) remain substantial.