On February 27, 2012 International Forum “Stimulating growth and investment during transition” was held in Casablanca, Morocco. It was dedicated to improving the investment climate in North Africa. The event was organized by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) with the support of the Center for Mediterranean Integration (CMI), the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM), the Center for Young Leaders (CJD) and the Moroccan Association of Businesswomen (AFEM). The International financial institution begins implementing a series of investment projects in the region, so the management of the EBRD invited “NIBULON” to participate as an exemplary enterprise that implements its own investment program financed by the bank (at a total cost of USD 470 million, more than USD 252 million of which are spent) and share its successful experience of cooperation with the EBRD, demonstrating the possibility of investment initiatives in developing countries. We would like to remind you that in 2010 the company obtained a loan from the international institution in the amount of USD 50 million. In November 2011, the EBRD recognized the “NIBULON” as a winner of the Ukrainian Energy Efficiency Program (UKEEP) in the nomination “Project with the largest energy savings”. At the beginning of the event Abdelila Benkiran, the head of Morocco’s Government, and Jonathan Charles, the Director for Communications of the EBRD addressed with a welcoming speech to the participants and guests. Among the participants there were Nizar Baraka, Morocco’s Minister of Economy and Finance; AbdelKader Aamara, Morocco’s Minister of Industry, Commerce and New Technology; Erik Berglof, the EBRD chief economist; Gordon Baynayi, the former Prime Minister of Hungary; Božidar Đelić, the former deputy Prime Minister of Serbia; Mohammed Horani, the president of the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises; Hazim Sebat, the president of the Center of Young Leaders; Soraya Badro, the president of the Moroccan Association of Businesswomen. The head of financial department Andriy Mykhaylyuk represented “NIBULON” at the meeting. In his report to the senior politicians of the countries (Central and Eastern Europe as well as Morocco and Turkey), representatives of business circles, he highlighted the main aspects of the company’s activity and focused on the key points of the project, which is financed by the EBRD, in particular: – building of a network of modern elevator complexes and transshipment terminals; – own towing fleet construction; – creation and continuous development of quality control of grain production; – improving the supply chain using Ukrainian waterways; – getting higher prices for products by the domestic producer, including due to geographical proximity to the branches of the company and hence the cost reduction; – expanding the supply geography etc. The EBRD representatives in unison to Andriy Mykhaylyuk’s speech emphasized that the investment project of the Ukrainian national company plays an important role in infrastructure development and the revival of waterways that are currently not used (except for “NIBULON”). Moreover, the marginal cost of external factors (noise, accidents, pollution, climate change, congestion) of river shipping is twice as small as the marginal cost of external factors of road traffic. According to them, transportation by river transport is 30-60% cheaper than by rail, and 90% cheaper than by road. Also, according to experts of the international financial institution, implementation of “NIBULON’s” investment project will enable to reduce up to 13 thousand tons of carbon emissions per year. The Forum in Morocco has become the beginning of the search for options of “NIBULON’s” investment program implementation on the African continent. During the event, Andriy Mykhaylyuk had several bilateral negotiations with the countries leaders, heads of the companies that are potential buyers of Ukrainian grain. It is not a secret that “NIBULON” confidently holds the leading position in the Ukrainian grain market, the company’s authority does not admit of doubt in the international market. International experts from grain importing countries position the company as a Ukrainian national company that represents Ukraine. In tough, but fair and open fight with transnational global companies, “NIBULON” supplies agricultural products to over 60 countries worldwide (from Mexico to Japan). Andriy Mykhaylyuk noted, “As a result of the forum and negotiations, “NIBULON” was comprehensively presented to importers of North Africa, to the region, countries of which import agricultural products traditionally from the USA, Argentina and Brazil. Then you can fully expect that this will allow us to expand the geography of Ukrainian exports, establishing trade and investment relations with Moroccan buyers and with other African importers as well.”