On May 31^st – June 1^st, 2017 Alexander Krotenko, the Consul of the Consulate General of Ukraine in San Francisco, participated in the 92^nd Annual Consular Corps Meeting in Sacramento. The event was attended by Consular officers of about 50 countries and the California Governor, leaders of the U.S. and California chambers of commerce, as well as representatives of leading companies (Boeing Capital, Siemens Industry, AT&T, Blue Diamond Growers, DLA Piper, Pacer Technology), banks (River City Bank, Golden 1 Credit Union), academic and scientific institutions (Southern California University, State University of Sacramento).

There was a number of important events held within the Annual Meeting by the California Chamber of Commerce and the Northern California World Trade Council.

In particular, on May 31^st, 2017 the International Forum was held. During it speakers emphasized on the importance of the NAFTA, provisions of which the U.S. President intends to revise. One of the main speakers was Christopher Wenk, the Executive Director of International Police, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, who paid significant attention on the importance of the U.S. foreign trade liberalization. Panorea Avdis, the Director of the California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, informed about the state’s priorities on exports promotion of Californian goods and services as well as attracting investments in innovative technologies.

At that day a Reception for Consular Corps and California business partners was held. During that event the Consul discussed with Awinash Bawle, the newly appointed Deputy Director of the California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, perspectives of arranging a California’s businessmen trip to Ukraine. Particularly the Consul stressed that delegation’s trip to Kyiv would be a valuable impetus for further development of trade and economic, scientific and technical cooperation between Ukraine and California. In this context essential fundament for establishment of direct business contacts and launching of concrete business projects were set during the visits of the U.S. business delegations lead by the Secretary of Commerce to Ukraine in September 2014 and October 2015, as well as Ukrainian-U.S. Business  Forum in Washignton DC on July 2015 and the meeting of Petro Poroshenko, the President of Ukraine, with Edmund Gerald Brown, the Governor of California, in July 2016.

On June 1^st, 2017 the Annual Host Breakfast with the Governor of California was held. Over 1000 representatives of Consular Corps, California Senate and Assembly, state administration, military servicemen and businessmen, investors and academics. During his speech the Edmund Brown emphasized on the leading role of the state (6^th economy in the world with around USD 2.67 trillion GDP) leaving behind such powerful countries as France, Italy, India and Brazil.