Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has launched a website, Ukraine.ua, to tell foreigners about life in the country. It is useful for those who want to travel, study and invest in Ukraine, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Jan. 14.
The website is now available in English but Kuleba promised to add French, German, Spanish, Arabic and Chinese languages soon.
For international tourists, the website offers a list of activities in Kyiv, Lviv, Odesa, Kherson, Chornobyl, Kamyanets Podilsky, Crimea and the Carpathians. Those who want to combine sightseeing with gourmet meals for example, can go on a wine tour in Odesa, while those who love adventures can visit Dragobrat, the highest ski resort in Ukraine, the website said.
Foreign businesses can learn how to pay taxes, follow Ukrainian laws and communicate with the government. The website promotes Ukraine as a good place to invest because of simple laws for businesses and a convenient location at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
International students, who usually come to Ukraine to study medicine, information technology and agriculture, can learn how to apply to university and pay tuition fees. According to the website, over 90 Ukrainian universities offer programs in English and welcome students from around the globe.
To show Ukraine’s beauty to international friends, the Foreign Ministry also created a photo journal with pictures of Ukraine’s dishes, castles, rivers and villages. Everyone can download these photos and use them for free, the Ministry said.
The website’s slogan, “Ukraine NOW,” is the official brand the country uses to promote itself abroad. It has a distinctive yellow and blue coloring, and a bold black typeface.
The identity and motto “Ukraine Now,” here painted on a wall, is Ukraine`s national brand, designed by Kyiv-based creative agency Banda. (Banda Agency)
The Ukrainian government created the brand to change how foreigners think about Ukraine — a country rife with corruption, revolution and war. With the new brand, Ukraine wants to attract investments into business, tourism and cultural projects.
The new website has a similar purpose, according to Kuleba.
“Foreigners can learn about Ukraine online, become interested in the country and then visit it, invest in it or apply here to study,” Kuleba said.
