A delegation of diplomats representing 24 EU member states has visited Kharkiv Tractor Plant in the east of Ukraine to observe the modernization efforts currently underway at one of the most iconic industrial facilities in the country. The visit to the plant, owned by Oleksandr Yaroslavsky as part of his DCH Group, came at the request of the EU Delegation in Ukraine. Countries represented in this diplomatic industrial fact-finding mission included Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Holland, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.
“We have demonstrated the dynamic development of Kharkiv Tractor Plant to the delegation,” commented Konstantin Petrovsky, who serves as chairman of the plant’s supervisory board and is also a member of DCH Group’s board of directors. “The plant’s shareholder Oleksandr Yaroslavsky is a Kharkiv native who invests in many projects that are important for the region’s development. This includes Kharkiv airport and the city’s first five-star hotel. We now face the task of fully reviving the fortunes of Kharkiv Tractor Factory. The team is making progress in modernizing the plant and making it profitable once more.”
During their excursion around the plant, visiting EU diplomats were able to discuss issues such as export strategies, local production materials sourcing, improved engine performance and additional competitive advantages the plant’s tractors offer. Kharkiv Tractor Plant general director Andriy Koval outlined plans for the further development of the plant and familiarized diplomatic guests with the modernization program of the entire production cycle that is currently underway.
“For us, this meeting was interesting from the point of view of strategy. We export products and seek to develop our product in line with European certification requirements,” Mr. Koval commented. “In general, modernization is going according to plan. This is one of the largest enterprises in the Kharkiv region and one of the few in the machine-building sector. The visiting diplomats saw that the company is working. If you compare sales from two years ago with current figures, you will see that our future growth goals are quite achievable.”
Visiting diplomats underlined the potential for EU exports. “Our trip to Kharkiv Tractor Plant was not only inspired by historic interest. We came because this plant has every prospect of developing further and gaining access to EU markets,” commented Fabio Della Piazza of the European Commission.
Kharkiv Tractor Plant was founded in 1930 and was acquired by Oleksandr Yaroslavsky in 2016. At the time, it was experiencing a protracted crisis. Following investment by Yaroslavsky, the plant was able to pay off salary arrears and return to production. In 2017, output reached 794 units, with the 2018 figure expected to surpass 800 units.