KYIV. Sept 8 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Ukrainian businessman Vasyl Khmelnytsky has set up a private fund – K.Fund (‘K.’ stands for ‘the key’) – to merge his initiatives in the economy and education, according to a press release issued by the fund.
“I will support projects in the spheres of education and economy that could facilitate the development of favorable conditions and added value of the country and its people. This initiative is public, and not political. Human capital is Ukraine’s main asset and potential. The country needs people with new knowledge and skills that are able to implement modern projects. Our task is to give young people the keys to open new horizons and find a way to their dreams,” the businessman said.
The size of K.Fund has not been disclosed.
The businessman also stressed that the world changes very fast and the classical system of education lags behind these changes. Therefore, K.Fund is oriented towards the model of sustainable education – today people have to learn all the time throughout their lives. Regarding the economy, K.Fund will assist in implementing projects aimed at forming the so-called knowledge-driven economy in Ukraine – the introduction of new technologies, investment, and the creation of well-paid jobs.
Today, the businessman supports projects of the Osvitoria public association – a secondary school, Novopecherska School in Kyiv, the iLearn online platform for students of boarding schools and children from needy families, a master’s level program in public administration at the National University of “Kyiv-Mohyla Academy,” and Ukraine’s first inter-corporate IT university BIONIC University.
Khmelnytsky’s Library project will be launched in the next few months to publish modern literature in Ukrainian on three main topics – education, economy, and entrepreneurship.
Vasyl Khmelnytsky invests in the development of various businesses in Ukraine with a focus on cooperation and co-management. Almost every project has its own configuration of shareholders and management.
Today, the entrepreneur’s core activity is real estate development business. He is a majority shareholder in UDP company, which implements large-scale infrastructure projects, including Kyiv International Airport, Ocean Plaza shopping mall, residential complexes Novopecherski Lypky, Boulevard of Fountains, RiverStone, and Parkove Misto. Khmelnytsky also invests in BIOFARMA (pharmaceuticals production), StarMedia (production of films and TV programs), RTM (national advertising operator). He is also a minority shareholder in Bank Khreschatyk. The entrepreneur’s plans include the creation of hi-tech industrial facilities, the development of innovation parks, and attraction of foreign investment and technologies in Ukraine.
