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| ISSUE 17 - SEPTEMBER 21, 2018 |
Russia is advancing on Ukraine again - and Ukraine isn't going quietly
President Petro Poroshenko tells the Post how he wants the war to end
By
Lally Weymouth, The Washington Post, Sept 13, 2018
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| Poroshenko with soldiers last month in Kyiv. Photo: Mikhail Palinchak/AP |
When Ukrainians took to the streets in the 2014 Maidan revolution, they ousted President Viktor Yanukovych and selected Petro Poroshenko as his successor to begin a period of reform. Poroshenko is up for reelection next spring, and polls show that Ukrainians are disappointed with him, particularly for what they see as his failure to clean up corruption. In a rare interview, Poroshenko discussed persistent Russian aggression, his wish for more international sanctions on Moscow and the Trump administration's sale of weapons to his country, which the Obama administration had blocked. Edited Excerpts follow.
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Q: The latest Russian aggression appears to be in the Sea of Azov near Crimea. Are the Russians trying to slice off another part of Ukraine?
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A: Russia's purpose is to occupy the Azov Sea, the same way it did Crimea. This is a brutal violation ...
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The Geopolitical Divorce of the Century: Why Putin Cannot Afford to Let Ukraine Go
By Peter Dickinson, Atlantic Council, Sept 18, 2018
Next month, Europe's leading budget airline will begin regular flights from Ukraine to a host of EU destinations. This is the latest milestone in a Ukrainian aviation boom that is seeing additional routes announced on a weekly basis and record passenger numbers at airports across the country. Each new flight serves to broaden Ukrainian horizons and anchor the country more firmly within the wider international community. Meanwhile, there has not been a single direct flight between Ukraine and Russia since October 2015.
The changes in Ukraine's air travel industry are just one of the many ways in which the country has turned away from Russia and gone global since the climax of the Euromaidan Revolution in early 2014 and the start of Vladimir Putin's hybrid war. Since then, Russia's share of Ukrainian exports has tumbled from 24 percent to around 9 percent, while Russian imports to Ukraine have halved. As economic ties between Kyiv and Moscow ... CLICK
U.S. Senate approves $250 mln for Ukraine's security needs
The Senate changes need to be approved by the House of Representatives, after which the document will be signed by the U.S. President.
The U.S. Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2019 (H.R. 6157), which provides, among other things, for an increase in assistance for Ukraine's security needs to $250 million, has passed a vote in the U.S. Senate.
"The U.S. Senate has approved the bill on the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2019, previously agreed with the House of Representatives, which provides $250 million in assistance for the needs of Ukraine's security. This is $50 million higher than the budget of 2018 for the relevant programs of support of our state," the Embassy of Ukraine in the United States wrote on Facebook ...
CLICK to read more
US Air Force to join large-scale aviation exercise in Ukraine ...
CLICK for info
Ukraine Rebuilds Its Military Muscle to Repel a Russian Invasion ... CLICK for more..
President Poroshenko: Russia must return Crimea, compensate losses incurred by Ukraine and guarantee non-recurrence of aggression ... CLICK for more
Ukraine Set To Inform Russia of Termination Of Friendship Treaty
Radio Free Europe/RL, September 19, 2018
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A Ukrainian border guard monitors the frontier with Russia -- no longer a meeting point of "friendship." (file photo)
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Ukraine says it will officially notify Russia on September 21 that it will not extend its treaty of friendship, cooperation, and partnership with Moscow.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin said on September 19 that Kyiv will notify all relevant organizations, including the United Nations, about the move.
The 10-year treaty was originally signed on May 31, 1997, with a clause that set its automatic extension if ...
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Poroshenko:
"What we have today cannot be called friendship" ...
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Six Steps to Move Ukraine Forward Before the 2019 Elections
By Olena Prokopenko, Atlantic Council, Sept 17, 2018
Ukraine has less than four months before the presidential campaign season begins in earnest on December 31. The media is already full of populist promises and ads defaming political competitors. Outdoor advertising is dominated by catchy slogans and the old faces of party leaders. TV channels are being redistributed between their oligarch owners.
What can parliament and the government accomplish before the start of the election season? Not much. We must be realistic and prioritize. Among the many vital reforms Ukraine needs, the focus should be on those that enable an environment for further transformations and ensure the country's resilience in the face of a possible worsening of the political climate following the elections. That list includes at least six specific reforms.
1. National security and defense ... As a country at war ... CLICK to read more
Ensuring a Transparent, Free and Fair Election Campaign in Ukraine
By Adrian Karmazyn, U.S.-Ukraine Foundation
The German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) and the Friends of Ukraine Network (FOUN) Democracy and Civil Society Task Force held a
Strategy Session on Ukraine's 2019 Elections featuring Mary O'Hagan, Ukraine Resident Senior Director at the National Democratic Institute; Stephen Nix, Regional Director for Eurasia at the International Republican Institute; Orest Deychakiwsky, former Helsinki Commission senior policy advisor and current U.S.-Ukraine Foundation (USUF) Board Vice-Chair; and Jonathan Katz, Senior Fellow at GMF. The September 17th discussion at the German Marshall Fund focused on voter attitudes regarding key issues and candidates as reflected in national polling in Ukraine, the influence of Russian disinformation and other interference, financing of the candidates, fair and balanced media coverage, the role of civil society, the makeup of the Central Election Commission, OSCE election monitoring, and what the U.S. can do to help Ukraine conduct a transparent, free and fair election campaign and democratic vote that will meet international standards.
The presidential elections in Ukraine will take place in March 2019 with parliamentary elections to be held in October 2019. The results of the elections will certainly shape Ukraine's future reform trajectory, relations with the U.S. and the European Union, and security vis-à-vis Russia.
The FOUN Democracy and Civil Society Task Force is co-chaired by Jonathan Katz and Orest Deychakiwsky; the Vice Chair is Adrian Karmazyn of USUF. The Friends of Ukraine Network is an initiative of the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation.
Ukraine's Incomplete Transformation
By Judy Dempsey, Carnegie Europe, Sept 18, 2018
Ukraine has entered the election season. It was kicked off recently in Kiev by Petro Poroshenko, who has been president since 2014. In a speech full of rhetoric and promises delivered at this year's YES conference, he loudly pledged that this annual gathering would convene "next year in Yalta."
Poroshenko received a warm applause for such words. But who in the audience would believe that Russia was going to end its illegal annexation of Crimea and allow Ukraine to regain its territorial integrity?
If anything, the continuing conflict in eastern Ukraine gets little coverage these days in the Ukrainian media. Instead, it's the persistent corruption coupled with the decline in living standards in the country ...
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How to Lose a Presidential Election Before It Even Starts: Ukraine's Top Reform Party Turns on Itself
By Melinda Haring, Atlantic Council, Sept 9, 2018
Ukraine's Maidan reformers had a real shot at reaching a tipping point and changing the country once and for all. In 2014, the reform-oriented Samopomich party, led by Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi, performed far better than expected in the parliamentary elections just a few months after street protests ejected pro-Russian President Victor Yanukovych. The Lviv-based party took thirty-three seats and joined the governing coalition; its roster included a number of new faces from business, academia, and civil society.
Today, the party is no longer part of the governing coalition; its parliamentarians now describe themselves as troublemakers. Their numbers in parliament have shrunk, Sadovyi's approval ratings have dropped precipitously, and the party looks set to become a regional party rather than a national one ... CLICK to read more
YES 2018: Herbst says Kremlin likely to interfere in Ukraine's elections
By Ilya Timtchenko, Kyiv Post, Sept 17, 2018
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| Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine John Herbst speaks at a panel discussion at the 14th Yalta European Strategy conference in 2017 |
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The United States is very concerned that Russia will interfere in Ukraine's upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections in March ... CLICK for more
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Can Bioinformatics Be a Gateway for a Biotech Surge in Ukraine?
By
Adrian Karmazyn
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From left, Nika Gurianova, Taya Kozak and Alina Frolova - representatives of a new generation of Ukrainian scientific researchers - at the Integrative Biology & Medicine conference held in Kyiv in October 2017. Photo: Adrian Karmazyn |
This important gathering of researchers will focus on single-cell RNA sequencing, a breakthrough technology, which according to the organizers, has great potential for understanding cellular heterogeneity, dynamics, and gene regulation, opening new horizons for biomedical applications. Participants will also delve into the complementary technology of developing human organoids, which are used to understand the biology of self-organization as well as mechanisms of diseases, and provide a new system for drug discovery and testing.
Besides introducing single-cell and organoids-based approaches to the study of biology and disease (especially of the human brain, including autism and epilepsy) another goal of the event is to gather biologists, engineers, and computational people to dive into scRNAseq technology and data analysis and introduce researchers and engineers to building and applying microfluidics devices for single-cell biology. The hope is that bringing together these specialists will help lay the groundwork for creating a bioinformatics hub in Kyiv.
Among the lead organizers of the RNABIO conference are Alina Frolova of the Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics and Nika Gurianova of the Bogomoletz Institute of Physiology. I first had the chance to meet them in Kyiv in October 2017 at their
Integrative Biology & Medicine conference. They had
invited USUF to present information about our new Biotechnology Initiative, which aims to support the development of biotech in Ukraine.
As Nika explains it, a group of researchers in Kyiv had been coalescing around the idea of creating a more vibrant biotech/biomedicine community in Ukraine. They were enthusiastic participants and proponents of this cutting-edge field but painfully aware that although Ukraine had the requisite scientific talent to build medical/health-related biotech, the country lacked the funding for laboratories and other infrastructure, as well as the managerial and networking experience, to make Ukraine a significant global player in the field. Thus, many Ukrainian researchers were leaving the country for better opportunities to realize their scientific talents abroad ...
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JetBridge Sales Automation cofounder and CEO John Sung Kim talks about his career as a serial entrepreneur and his efforts to establish a part of his San-Francisco-based company in Kyiv, Ukraine. JetBridge helps marketing managers hit their growth targets faster through automation. The company was cofounded by software architect Mischa Spiegelmock.
For additional information, contact Michael Buryk at:
~ In Support of USUF's Economic Development Programming ~
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Green Economy Transition
By European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
The EBRD's Green Economy Transition approach will increase the volume of our sustainable financing and broaden its scope.
The EBRD launched the Green Economy Transition (GET) approach in 2015 to put investments that bring environmental benefits at the heart of our mandate.
Preserving and improving the environment are central features of a modern, well-functioning market economy and therefore key goals of the transition process that the
EBRD was set up to promote.
Building on a decade of successful green investments, the GET approach seeks to increase the volume of green financing from an average of 24 per cent of EBRD annual business investment in the 10 years up to 2016 to 40 per cent by 2020.
EBRD sustainable investments mitigate and/or build resilience to the effects of climate change and other forms of environmental degradation. Expanding its initial focus on energy efficiency and renewable energy projects, the EBRD has already moved into the areas of water and materials efficiency and climate adaptation.
The GET approach further expands on this experience
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to read more
Ellen Wasylina
is on the EBRD Consultancy register as a Green Economy Transition (GET) expert.
She is looking to join a team of consultants or a firm to do projects in Ukraine that brogan the environmental dimension, that emphasize innovation, and that make selective use of public delivery channels to maximize impact.
Let's work together and achieve the EBRD's goals in Ukraine! Contact Ellen at: taga2017@icloud.com
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News from the Ukrainian-American Environmental Association ...
UKRAINIAN SUSTAINABLE ENERGY and ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS HEADLINES
6930 Carroll Avenue, #340; Takoma Park, MD 20912 ...
301-270-6477 x.6
Acciona Enters Ukraine with a €55 Million Investment in a 57.2-MW Photovoltaic Complex to Come On-Line in Early 2019 - Consists of Three Plants (Dymerka 2, 3 and 4) About 100 km Northwest of Kyiv
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PV Magazine, September 14, 2018
https://www.pv-magazine.com/press-releases/acciona-enters-ukraine-with-a-e55-million-investment-in-a-photovoltaic-complex
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Energy Efficiency Fund to Be Launched in Ukraine by Year-End: UkrInform.net, September 11, 2018
https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-economy/2535663-energy-efficiency-fund-to-be-launched-by-yearend.html
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Nordic Countries Offer Money, Expertise to Help Ukraine Cut Its Greenhouse Gas Emissions; Finland and Sweden Have Allocated 16 Million Euros for Projects in District Heating and Renewable Energy: Kyiv Post, by Bermet Talant, September 10, 2018
https://www.kyivpost.com/ukraine-politics/nordic-countries-offer-money-expertise-to-help-ukraine-boost-renewables.html
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Ukraine Takes Part in IRENA Innovation Week 2018 - Plans to Prepare Legislative Proposals Promoting Smart Grids, Energy Accumulation Systems and Hydrogen Energy Projects: UkrInform, September 10, 2018
https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-economy/2534739-ukraine-takes-part-in-irena-innovation-week-2018.html
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Mariupol Breathes Dirtiest Air in Ukraine Thanks to Two Akhmetov Steel Plants:
Kyiv Post, by Veronika Melkozerova, September 7, 2018
https://www.kyivpost.com/ukraine-politics/mariupol-breathes-dirtiest-air-in-ukraine-thanks-to-2-akhmetov-steel-plants.html
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Sweden Provides EUR 10 Million for District Heating Modernization in Ukraine: Strategeast.org, September 7, 2018
https://strategeast.org/sweden-provides-eur-10-mln-for-district-heating-modernization-in-ukraine
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Swiss Government Helps Ukraine to Make Homes More Energy Efficient via "Warm Loans" Program - Residents Are Cutting Bills and Saving Energy by Installing Individual Boilers, Upgrading Electric Wiring, Buying Low-Energy Lightbulbs, and Insulating Building Walls:
Kyiv Post, by Bermet Talant, September 7, 2018.
https://www.kyivpost.com/business/swiss-government-helps-ukraine-to-make-homes-more-energy-efficient.html
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Norway's NBT to Invest EUR 370 Million and Build 250-MW Wind Farm on the Northern Shore of Lake Sivash in Southern Kherson - This is First Phase of a $2 Billion Plan to Construct 1.1-GW of Wind Power: Ukrinform, September 6, 2018
https://powerlinks.news/article/9041db/nbt-builds-eur-370-million-wind-farm-in-ukraine
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Ukraine's Parliament Passes Forest Preservation Bill - Introduces Severe Punishment for Smuggling of Round Timber and Restricts Domestic Consumption of Rough Timber to 25 Million Cubic Meters a Year: Open for Business, September 6, 2018
https://open4business.com.ua/parliament-passes-ukrainian-forest-preservation-bill-with-presidents-remarks
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Eco-Protestors Target Proposed Shipping Route through Ukraine and Poland - EU and Multilateral Lenders Are Studying the Project:
EurasiaNet.org, by Tom Allan, September 5, 2018
https://www.eurasianet.org/belarus-eco-protestors-target-proposed-shipping-route-through-ukraine-and-poland
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New Study Concludes That Nordic Climate Solutions Have Large Potential in Ukraine: NEFCO.org, September 5, 2018
http://www.nefco.org/news-media/news/new-study-nordic-climate-solutions-have-large-potential-ukraine
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Green Innovations Are Tested at TeslaCamp in Kyiv - Microgrids Are the Watchword This Year:
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The New York Times Travel Show
January 25-27, 2019 at the Jacob K. Javits Center, NYC
The U.S.-Ukraine Foundation Plans to Represent Ukraine, again!
USUF represented Ukraine at the 2017 & 2018 New York Times Travel Shows.
Join us in 2019!
The 2019 New York Times Travel Show will be one of the most successful international celebration of travel, food and culture ever! Mark your calendars for the 2019 Travel Show, which will take place from January 25 - 27.
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Many of the past exhibitors and sponsors have already indicated they will be reserving their same space and more than 100 new organizations have expressed interest or already signed up to exhibit at the event. The 2018 Show was one of the most-highly attended Travel Show ever. The New York Times Travel Show, the largest of its kind in North America, is widely regarded as the "gateway show" for the world's travel destinations wishing to present to the U.S. market.
Note: The U.S.-Ukraine Foundation welcomes inquiries from travel agencies, hotels, airlines, restaurants, conference centers, etc., for trade show representation.
For more information: Contact us!
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CULTURAL PODCASTS - THE WELL
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The Ukrainian: Life and Culture is a new, visually engaging magazine focused on the
image for Ukraine worldwide and promote its culture.
For additional information, contact Michael Buryk at:
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PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AT USUF
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BIOTECH PROJECT COORDINATOR - PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITY
The U.S.-Ukraine Foundation seeks a BIOTECH PROJECT COORDINATOR to help lead efforts in supporting Ukraine's biotech sector through communications and outreach.
The Biotech Project Coordinator will work with Foundation staff in Washington, DC and Ukraine.
The Biotech Project Coordinator will have wide ranging responsibilities, must be flexible and willing to assume varied duties for the project.
Qualifications
Bachelor's degree
Knowledge of the biotech industry helpful
Varied communications experience with multiple platforms helpful
Ukrainian/English language skills helpful
Effective oral, written and interpersonal skills to effectively interact with all levels of staff, U.S. and foreign government personnel, NGO community and the public
Capacity to work both independently, as a self-starter, and cooperatively, as a member of a team
Working knowledge of word processing and spreadsheet applications
Organizational skills and attention to detail
Ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks simultaneously
No phone calls, please.
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PROGRAM ASSISTANT - PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITY
The U.S.-Ukraine Foundation seeks a Program Assistant to help with office management, communications, event planning, and other administrative functions.
The Program Assistant will work with Foundation staff in Washington, DC and Ukraine.
The Program Assistant will have wide ranging responsibilities, must be flexible and willing to assume varied duties and projects.
Bachelor's degree
Ukrainian/English language skills very helpful
Effective oral, written and interpersonal skills to effectively interact with all levels of staff, U.S. and foreign government personnel, NGO community and the public
Capacity to work both independently and as a member of a team
Working knowledge of word processing and spreadsheet applications
Organizational skills and attention to detail
Ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks simultaneously
No phone calls, please.
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SUPPORT THE U.S.-UKRAINE FOUNDATION
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for the tastiest Ukrainian Food, sponsored by the Ivano-Frankivsk Committee, Arlington Sister City Association
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~ World Premiere ~
Baba Babee Skazala
at the
Fall 2018 New Jersey Film Festival
New Brunswick, NJ - October 7, 2018 -
Baba Babee Skazala [Grandmother Told Grandmother], a documentary film by Verona, NJ resident, and first-time filmmaker,
Matej Silecky, will have its World Premiere at the Fall 2018 New Jersey Film Festival, Sunday October 7, 2018, 7 PM. The screening will be held at Voorhees Hall #105, 71 Hamilton Street/College Avenue Campus, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ. It will be followed by a Q&A session with Matej and others involved in the production of the film (others TBA). Tickets are available in advance; details at
www.njfilmfest.com.
Baba Babee Skazala tells the little-known story of Ukrainian children torn from their homes in the crush between the Nazi and Soviet fronts in World War II. Spending their childhood as refugees in Europe, these inspiring individuals later immigrated to the United States, creating new homes and communities through their grit, faith and deep belief in the importance of preserving culture. It is Matej's first film, and is the culmination of over 35 oral history interviews uncovering the experiences of these survivors.
Other New Jerseyans who were part of the team include: Rutgers University professor,
Dr. Alexander Motyl, who provides historic background for the film; Cinematographer (select locations) and former Verona, NJ resident,
Evan Yee; Producer and long-time Verona resident,
Julie Parker. All the works selected for the festival were screened by a panel of 15 judges including media professionals, journalists, students, and academics. These judges selected the 22 Finalist/Official Selection films which will be publicly screened at our Festival. These were selected from over 507 works submitted by filmmakers from around the world.
Matej is the Founding Director of Kitsune Tale Productions, LLC, but is perhaps best known for being the Runner Up on
ITV's "Dancing On Ice" 2018, with his celebrity partner, Brooke Vincent of ITV's "Coronation Street." Matej earned a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies from UC Berkeley and a minor in Theater, Dance & Performance Studies. He developed Baba Babee Skazala while at UC Berkeley, and is excited it is having its premiere in his home state.
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ABLC Global will be home to 17 distinctive Summits, Workshops and Forums and three organizations under one big tent. Dozens of international high-level delegations and the focus and energy of ABLC and its "Networking Like Crazy" focus on cooperation, collaboration, partnership, deal-making and trend-spotting.
The Speakers, the dates, the venue, and a special 2 for 1 opportunity to maximize ROI - perhaps the single broadest, most global event ever organized in the advanced bioeconomy -
all ready for you at The Digest online.
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The U.S.-Ukraine Foundation's new website has been created by Steven May, Jr. and his talented team associated with Ask the Egghead. Steven May Jr., aka lead egghead at Ask the Egghead, has over 25 years of career experience that spans multiple business models and sectors. If you need website support, Ask the Egghead!
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