Almost 90% of 113 polled firms say they continue operating in Ukraine - AmCham

KYIV. March 21 (Interfax-Ukraine) - The American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine (AmCham) has polled 113 out of 633 its members to discover that 88% of them are continuing business operations in Ukraine: 45% are operating partially, 18% have relocated to another region within Ukraine, 6% closed offices in some regions, 12% have stopped operations, and 6% have shut down totally.

"88% of AmCham Ukraine members continue operating in Ukraine. [...] Business is united and fighting for Ukraine's future and freedom," the business association's press service quoted President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine Andy Hunder as saying.

AmCham said in its report on the results of the survey conducted on March 17-18 among 113 chief executive officers and top managers of AmCham Ukraine members that 95% continued to pay salaries despite the latest developments in Ukraine.

"65% of them pay full salary and provide extra support, 26% pay full salary, 8% - partially reduced salary, 1% - pay a minimum wage. Only 1% could not pay salaries at all," AmCham said in a statement.

"92% of respondents indicate that their organizations provide support to the humanitarian drive. The most common ways of support are financial support (42%), providing in-kind goods (24%), and volunteering drive within the companies' employees (14%)," it said.

Speaking of major challenges, the AmCham Ukraine members noted safety and security of employees (79%), logistics and transport (49%), and export-import operations (21%), it said. "Among others are relocation (16%), access to financing (6%), and access to raw materials (6%)," according to the survey.

"AmCham Ukraine companies encourage HQs to support their employees in Ukraine and communicate with top-level authorities on their country level to provide multifaceted support to Ukraine (financial, humanitarian, etc.). Business also calls on colleagues to try to keep operations in Ukraine, to pay taxes and salaries to employees, thus supporting Ukraine's economy," AmCham said.