创业者说：为什么俄乌冲突不影响乌克兰的投资潜力

    据乌克兰国家通信与信息化监管委员会（National Commission for the State Regulation of Communication and Informatization of Ukraine）2013年的报告显示，目前，乌克兰的认证IT专业人员数量居世界第四位。事实上，早在2011年，乌克兰的IT劳务输出就已经超过了武器出口。即便现在，乌克兰政府仍然在为它的IT行业提供减税和公共融资等优惠政策。此外，乌克兰在教育方面的公共开支在中东欧地区高居榜首。小公司如果想要寻找价格低廉、但高度专业化的员工，乌克兰绝对是一座有待开发的金矿。

    而在财务方面，乌克兰的吸引力更是令人难以抗拒。据SupportUkraine.us（近期，乌克兰大使馆为鼓励投资设计的活动）统计，在乌克兰进行外包的公司，预计可节省40%至75%的预算。如此惊人的价值并不意味着品质的下降；我公司的乌克兰图形设计师和程序员们都是公司最有价值的员工。如果没有他们一直以来的出色表现，我也不会有今天的成绩。

    此外，乌克兰在文化方面也有诸多优势。乌克兰人态度诚恳，工作努力，面对逆境，永不放弃。我们也从来不会忽视良好礼仪和友好态度的重要性。乌克兰人的诚实和坦率经常令人深感意外；对于在海外外包敏感工作的公司，这些品质至关重要。

    乌克兰的尊严感与专业精神可以追溯到历史上的经济繁荣时期。而正是这种精神把它与其他受欢迎的外包国家区别开来，比如在印度和中国，文化冲突有时候会成为难以应对的挑战。乌克兰的商业文化与美国有许多相通之处，因为这两个国家都曾经是强大的世界强国。美国公司会发现与乌克兰人交流更容易，因为许多乌克兰人可以用流利的英文对话和阅读。

    目前，乌克兰发生的事情确实非常糟糕，但这种局面不会永远持续下去。我相信，冲突结束之后，祖国的人民将变得更加坚强。目前，有许多乌克兰人处于无业状态，所以，对于美国公司而言，现在是以低成本获得聪明敬业的新员工的成熟时机。投资乌克兰，你不仅在帮助自己的公司发展，也在帮助拯救一个国家。

    本文作者弗拉基米尔•詹德曼是展示折页打印公司Company Folders的创始人兼CEO。此外，他也是年轻创业家协会的成员。这个协会是由前途无量的年轻创业者组成的邀请制机构。（财富中文网）

    译者：刘进龙/汪皓

    Presently, Ukraine is ranked fourth in the world for its number of certified IT specialists, according to a 2013 report of the National Commission for the State Regulation of Communication and Informatization of Ukraine.In fact, as of 2011, the country’s IT service exports have exceeded its arms exports. Even now, the Ukrainian government supports its IT sector with tax exemptions and public financing. Ukraine also boasts the highest public expenditures on education in East-Central Europe. The country is practically an untapped goldmine for small businesses looking for inexpensive yet highly professional employees.

    In terms of the bottom line, Ukraine’s allure is undeniable. According to SupportUkraine.us (a recent initiative from Ukraine’s embassy, designed to encourage investment), companies that outsource to Ukraine are estimated to save between 40% to 75% of their budgets. Such spectacular value doesn’t come at the cost of a drop in quality; the Ukrainian graphic designers and programmers who work for my own company are some of my most valuable employees. I wouldn’t be where I am today if their work wasn’t consistently exceptional.

    Ukraine also has plenty to offer from a cultural perspective. Ukrainians are earnest, hard-working people, and we don’t give up in the face of adversity. Nor do we overlook the importance of good manners and a friendly attitude. People are often surprised by how honest and transparent Ukraine’s people are; that’s an important trait to look for when outsourcing sensitive work overseas.

    The country’s sense of dignity and professionalism can be traced back to its history of economic prosperity. That’s something that truly sets it apart from other popular outsourcing nations such as India and China, where cultural incompatibility can sometimes be a formidable challenge. Ukraine’s business culture is quite compatible with that of the U.S. since both of them have experience as a formidable world power. American businesses often find it easier to communicate with Ukrainians, many of whom speak and read English fluently.

    What’s happening right now in Ukraine is awful, but it won’t last forever. I have faith that when this conflict is over, the people of my home country will come back stronger than ever. With so many people out of a job right now, this is a ripe opportunity for U.S. businesses to acquire some incredibly smart and dedicated employees at a low cost. And not only will you be helping your own company grow — you’ll be helping to save a nation.

    Vladimir Gendelman is the Founder and CEO of Company Folders, a presentation folder printing company. He is also a member of the Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC), an invite-only organization of promising young entrepreneurs.