Lviv IT Cluster Members Met with a Trade Delegation from Utah

On May 6th, the Lviv IT Cluster held a meeting of community members with a trade delegation from the United States. The event’s main goal was to establish B2B cooperation between leaders from Utah and Ukraine’s public and private sectors, particularly the Lviv region. The Consulate General of Ukraine in San Francisco organized the delegation’s visit.

The Ukrainian technology sector is one of the critical interests of the trade mission participants, as Utah is home to the well-known technology and innovation ecosystem – Silicon Slopes. This non-profit organization is led by technical and business leaders of Utah, an engine of the US economy. Thanks to its focus on innovation and education, and favorable business climate, Utah has created a substantial and diversified economy, reaching a GDP of $248 billion by 2023 (per capita of $73,000).

“We are delighted to be here to establish connections with representatives of Utah and Lviv’s business and tech communities. I have a long personal history of relationships and work with Ukraine. It’s a country where you want to come back after visiting once. It is because of the incredible people, entrepreneurs, and innovations we see here. Our goal is to support Ukraine during the war and after it’s over,” said Jordan Tasher, representative of the Chamber of Representatives of the state of Utah.

The delegation members emphasized their interest in establishing a B2B order channel and building cooperation between Ukrainian IT clusters, industrial parks, and Utah’s technological and innovative ecosystem. The Utah tech community has also launched the Hire Ukraine Tech initiative to hire Ukrainian specialists to better connect Ukrainian tech companies with opportunities in Utah/the US.

“Utah’s tech industry is experiencing tremendous growth and is seeking international partners. We have close ties with local investors and companies ready to hire. Since our support for Ukraine is unwavering, we want to establish cooperation specifically with the Ukrainian tech sector,” emphasized Tiffany Vail, co-founder and COO, Wander.

During the meeting, the participants were introduced to the activities of the Lviv IT Cluster. In particular, they learned more about research and educational initiatives, Lviv Tech project, IT Arena, and Victory Projects. Deputy Executive Director of the Lviv IT Cluster, Yuriy Ohonovskiy, talked about the leading economic indicators and the overall state of the Ukrainian tech industry during the war to emphasize its resilience and adaptability.

“I believe in our cooperation that will benefit both sides. Such visits are essential now because they allow us to exchange expertise. And we should continue to strive for this. This meeting is a strong foundation for further cooperation between the Utah tech sector and the participants of the Lviv IT Cluster. After all, our companies have experience, expertise, quality, and talented employees,” added Sviatoslav Kavetskyi, Supervisory Board Chairman of the Lviv IT Cluster.

“In such conditions as war, our tech industry remains competitive and attracts interest from international partners. We fulfill our obligations to clients, execute contracts, and are ready to take on new ones,” emphasized Ihor Kostiv, Junior Vice President of GlobalLogic.

The meeting concluded with fruitful networking. In addition, the trade mission participants brought back from Lviv not only new valuable contacts but also painted fragments of Russian rockets that were shot down by the military of the Air Command West. The Lviv IT Cluster community supports the Air Force within the Sky project. These fragments are not just evidence of the skillful work of the military. They are also a reminder of the resilience and unity that the tech sector, military, and civilians have demonstrated since the first day of the full-scale invasion.