Ukraine's Ambassador to Philippines visits Cebu

Local

FROM conversations over local cuisine to meetings with Cebu’s top officials, Ukraine’s first resident ambassador to the Philippines, Yuliia Fediv, spent two days in Cebu mapping out how her country could connect more deeply with the region.

Fediv visited the province from October 15 to 16 as part of Ukraine’s continuing effort to expand partnerships with key Philippine cities.

The envoy said regional diplomacy now stands at the heart of Ukraine’s engagement with the Philippines, emphasizing the importance of connecting local governments, businesses, and communities beyond the national level.

During her visit, she met with Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro, Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival, Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Cindi Chan, and Cordova Mayor Cesar Suan. She also held talks with business leaders from the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the European Chamber of Commerce.

These meetings aimed to explore new areas of cooperation and open doors for trade, tourism, education, and innovation.

Fediv said Ukraine aims to build its first network of sister-city relationships with the Philippines, identifying Cebu and its neighboring cities as priority partners.

Plans include linking Cebu City with Chernivtsi City and Cebu Province with the Chernivtsi Region in western Ukraine—areas known for their strong local governance and emerging industries.

“We see much potential in Cebu as a gateway for cooperation not just in governance but also in trade and innovation,” Fediv added.

She said these partnerships would highlight tourism exchange, healthcare, social services, and local innovation.

She noted that Ukraine’s decade-long decentralization reform gave its cities more independence to pursue international cooperation, a framework she believes could strengthen collaboration between Ukrainian and Philippine local governments.

Fediv also outlined ongoing efforts to deepen economic relations between the two countries.

Among these are the proposed Joint Commission on Trade, Investment, Science and Technology Cooperation, and a memorandum of understanding between the Department of Agriculture and Ukraine’s Ministry of Economy, Ecology and Agriculture.

These initiatives, she said, aim to institutionalize long-term cooperation and promote sustainable trade.

Ukraine, one of the world’s largest exporters of agricultural goods, is also seeking to diversify its trade with the Philippines.

Fediv said her country hopes to expand exports of meat, beverages, and confectionery products, in addition to existing shipments of wheat and sunflower oil.

She encouraged Cebu’s entrepreneurs to explore business opportunities in Ukraine’s agriculture, IT, fintech, and creative industries.

The ambassador also discussed Ukraine’s experience in digital transformation, citing how the country successfully transferred essential public services online to maintain access during wartime.

She said such innovation could complement Cebu’s growing investments in digital infrastructure and STEM education.

Fediv further highlighted shared strengths in the creative sector, noting that both Ukraine and Cebu value artistry, craftsmanship, and local culture.

She pointed out that cooperation in crafts, gastronomy, and fashion could bring the two regions closer through cultural exchange and entrepreneurship.

She also recognized the efforts of Cebu-based businessman Curtis Go, Ukraine’s local partner in the province, for helping connect her with local officials and business leaders during the visit.

“It’s a big responsibility for the first resident ambassador of Ukraine to the Philippines to plant the seeds for future bilateral relations,” she said.(MyTVCebu)