Transforming the Ukrainian Economy while Consolidating the
Ukrainian State
Public Lecture by Dr. George Logush, Professor at the Kyiv School of Economics
and Advisor to the Ukrainian Government
Thursday 12 November 8:30 – 10:00
Auditorium A2-080
BI Norwegian Business School Nydalsveien 37
The seminar is arranged by The Thorstein Veblen Seminar on Business and Society
at BI Norwegian Business School, Department of Innovation and Economic Organisation in
collaboration with The Norwegian-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce
Professor Logush will present a comprehensive overview of current processes in Ukraine that are
propelling it to an economic and political renaissance and affording significant opportunities for
business and academic cooperation between Ukraine and Europe. These are turbulent times for Ukraine
as well as increasingly so for Europe, with many root causes and processes in common: economic
underperformance, political disruption and realignments, and the growing impact of the technological
and knowledge revolution.
While for most Europeans, Ukraine seems to be a new and not quite understandable phenomenon,
history presents a different narrative of an ancient nation that is re-emerging, not unlike Norway a
century ago in a more peaceful environment. Ukrainian-Norwegian relations flourished in the 10th-11th
centuries. After a long hiatus, opportunities today abound for bilateral relations.
The anguished transformation of Ukraine from a vassal state without control over its economy to a
modern nation with a market economy is a complex process, distorted by interference and slowed by
the need for generational change. After its 3rd revolution in 25 years and resisting a 3rd invasion by
Russia within a century, a new generation of Ukrainians is transforming the economy, consolidating
the state, and renewing Ukraine’s place in the community of European nations.
Dr. Logush will present a brief overview of the historic setting without which it is impossible to
understand the recent past and current events as well as possible future developments. He will then
detail the current transformation in its economic and political dimensions. Based on this analysis, he
will discuss possible scenarios, each of which carries serious implications for the future of Europe as
well as significant opportunities. Ukraine’s strategic position, population and territory, natural
endowments as well as industry and agriculture are too vital not to be fully engaged within Europe.
Particular attention will be devoted to opportunities for Ukrainian-Norwegian economic relations.
About George Logush:
Dr. Logush has extensive experience in academe (President KSE, Vice Rector UCU, co-founder IMIKyiv), business (CEO at KPMG, RJR, VP at MHP, CEO for Kraft Foods Eastern Europe for 16 years),
and consulting (business, NGOs, government) in Ukraine, dating back to pre-independence 1989.
Currently he chairs the committee, consisting of ministers and the heads of EBRD, WB, and IFC, that
selects CEOs of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and he directs the management education program for
CEOs, management teams, and supervisory boards of SOEs, at KSE in conjunction with the Ministry
of Economic Development and Trade. In the US, he was professor at Fordham University’s Graduate
School of Business (also director of Institute of International Business, assistant and associate dean)
for 17 years, and consultant to the UN CTC as well as to major corporations and government. He holds
a PhD in Economics from New York University (dissertation “An Econometric Model of Soviet Foreign
Trade”). He has a wide range of publications and lectures.