A business delegation from two U.S. states — California and Washington — visited Lviv Region to strengthen cooperation with Ukraine. The visit took place on November 15–18 with the support of the Consulate General of Ukraine in San Francisco and became one of the most significant diplomatic missions of the year.
This was reported by Consulate General of Ukraine in San Francisco.
The delegation included Amanda Fisher, Director of International Relations and Protocol at the Office of the Governor of Washington State; Emily Desai, Deputy Director of the California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz); and Evan Reed, International Affairs Advisor to the Lieutenant Governor of California.
They were joined by representatives of the energy, infrastructure, logistics, architectural, and construction sectors — companies with experience in areas critical to Ukraine’s reconstruction.
During the official meeting at the Lviv Regional Military Administration, the parties outlined key areas of future cooperation.
“Regional partnerships are a strategic asset. By building cooperation between U.S. states and Ukrainian regions, we lay the foundation for resilient recovery and long-term economic growth, as well as open new opportunities for trade and innovation,” emphasized Dmytro Kushneruk, Consul of Ukraine in San Francisco.
Head of the Lviv Regional State Administration Maksym Kozytskyi highlighted the region’s potential for U.S. investment, particularly in renewable energy, technology, and industry:
“This is a landmark visit for our region. We seek to strengthen our cooperation so that it benefits both sides. In the energy sector, Lviv Region has significant potential for developing solar, wind, and small hydropower. For California, a global leader in green technologies, this is an opportunity to scale its expertise in a region actively seeking new energy solutions. Our region is also the national leader in the number of industrial parks — ready-made locations for U.S. manufacturing, logistics centers, R&D offices, and innovative projects. And our universities, IT companies, and incubators are strong partners for California in the fields of startups, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and technological solutions.”
In addition, the American delegation participated in the “Open Dialogue Between U.S. and Ukrainian Business” forum, which gathered more than 60 Ukrainian companies. The forum focused on opportunities for Ukrainian businesses to enter the U.S. market, investment projects, and needs in logistics, transport, energy, construction, and technology.
The delegation also held meetings at the Lviv City Council, visited local enterprises, and honored the memory of Ukrainian heroes.
In 2024, California’s legislative bodies officially supported the creation of a sister-region partnership between California and Lviv Region, laying the groundwork for stronger economic and humanitarian ties. The visit marked the next step in building interregional cooperation between the United States and Ukraine, focused on reconstruction and sustainable development.
Photo: Consulate General of Ukraine in San Francisco.
Author: Danylo Pievchev