Adam Smith Conferences would like to thank all participants – speakers, sponsors and delegates – for contributing to the great success of Adam Smith Conferences’ 3rd Annual Ukrainian Retail Forum.

Once again, the Adam Smith UKRAINIAN RETAIL FORUM underlined its status as the premier gathering of senior industry professionals in Ukraine. Despite the difficult economic climate, we are delighted that over 150 attendees took part in the 3 days of the Forum, where all the burning industry issues were discussed.

As always, the retail community particularly appreciated the opportunity to hear first hand from the 40-strong speaker faculty, which featured senior executives from such admired companies as:

Unitrade Group * COMFY * Foxtrot * MKS * Marks & Spencer Ukraine * Dia West * Argo Chain * Brocard Ukraine * Euroset * Hypermarket Chain ‘Regionmart’ * Ministry of Economy of Ukraine * Concern Europroduct * Med-Service * Eva Beauty Chain (OOO Rush) * Retail Studio * Darnitsa * Maratex Ukraine *  DK-Ukraine * Ukrainian Franchising Association *  Group of Companies “Allo” * Corporation “Pozhdnyakizhilstroy”* System Group * Knight Frank * amongst others.

They were joined in the audience by top representatives from such companies as:

ABN AMRO * Agrocontract * Alacor * Alfa Capital * Amstar Europe * APART International GmbH * Beiersdorf Ukraine * Center-T * Cherkassky Trade House * Concorde Capital * Delta Sport * Delta-Sport Ukraine * Dragon Capital * Eastern Europe Investment Company * Eurobilla Holding AG * EuroSet * Expert Capital Management * Foxtrot * Furshet * Furshet Formula * Galnaftogaz Concern * Goldman Sachs * Grand-Retail * Horizon Capital * IDS Group * Krai Property * Kraft Foods * MANGO * MasterCard Europe * Mayland Real Estate Ltd * Neumann International AG * Nokia Ukraine * Pakko Holding *  Parkridge Retail * Piraeus Bank ICB * PrivatLand * Rautakesko Ltd * Sport Scheck * Swedbank * Tchibo * TKS Holding * Ukrsibbank * Vision TV * Wild Orchid * and many others

KEY HIGHLIGHTS of the UKRAINIAN RETAIL FORUM:

1. KeyNote Presentation By Andrey Blisniyk, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Economy of Ukraine
2. EXCLUSIVE GUEST SPEAKER PRESENTATION BY MICHAEL BERGDAHL, EX-HR DIRECTOR, WAL MART HQ
3. Special Focus Day on the Ukrainian Regions & Strategies for Growth
4. POWER PANEL: TOP EXECUTIVES ANALYSED INDUSTRY TRENDS
5. CRYSTAL-BALL GAZING SESSION – WHAT IS NEXT FOR UKRAINIAN REGIONAL RETAIL?
6. CFO PANEL DISCUSSION: FINANCING THE FUTURE OF UKRAINIAN RETAIL
7. PANEL DISCUSSION AND INTERACTIVE Q & A SESSION: HOW TO STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD: DIFFERENTIATED MARKETING STRATEGIES IN CHALLENGING TIMES

All of these new elements were extremely well-received, and we are already planning new ideas for 2009!

Once again, particular thanks go to the sponsors of the conference for making it all possible!

Session Sponsor - Dragon Capital,
Preferred IT Partner - System Group,
Sponsors: Ernst & Young, DK-UKRAINE. Auditors & Consultants, Baker & Mckenzie, Roland Berger Strategy Consultants, UVK Ukrainian.

We look forward to informing you very soon about the preparations for 4th Annual Adam Smith Ukrainian Retail Forum in 2009. For all enquiries regarding the event, including your preferences regarding the dates and venue, please write to Gregory Melnikov at gregory@adamsmithconferences.com.

If you did not have a chance to participate in this outstanding event, but would like to gain access to the presentations, you can purchase the conference documentation here.