Ukraine at a Glance

• Population: approx. 48 million


• Capital city: Kiev, approx. 2.6 million inhabitants


• Language: Ukrainian (official language), Russian


• Religions: Russian Orthodox, Ukrainian Orthodox, Greek Catholic; small Jewish, Latin Catholic an Protestant communities; Islam


• Form of government: Presidential Republic

Economy

With bilateral trade totalling US$ 2,227million in the first half of 2005, Germany is Ukraine's second most important trading partner after Russia. In terms of direct investment, Germany is also one of Ukraine's key partners, having invested US$ 659 million to date (as at 1 July 2005). More than 1,000 German firms operate in Ukraine. In addition to the services provided by the Embassy, their interests are looked after by the Office of the Delegate of German Industry and Commerce, which represents the German Chambers of Commerce Abroad in Kiev.

Culture and Science

The German-Ukrainian Agreement on Cultural Cooperation concluded on 15 February 1993 entered into force on 19 July 1993. The Goethe Institute opened a branch in Kiev in 1993 and has in the meantime opened reading rooms and language centres in several parts of the country. An agreement on teacher secondments was concluded with Ukraine in 1993 and entered into force the following year. In 1998, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) opened an office in Kiev and an agreement on academic cooperation was also concluded. Several German ‘programme teachers’ (teachers working under special central government and federal state programmes), academic teachers and specialist advisers are now working in schools and universities in Ukraine. Demand for German language teaching - both in-school and outside school - continues to grow, as does the number of applicants for DAAD scholarships. Some 4,000 Ukrainians are currently studying at German universities.

Links

www.botschaft-ukraine.de (Official Representation of the Ukraine in Germany)
www.kiew.diplo.de (German embassy in the Ukraine)
www.dihk.com.ua/de (Delegate of German Industry and Commerce)
www.goethe.de/kiew (Goethe-Institute in Kiev)