The first Business Woman Club trade mission to China became more than just an opportunity for the Ukrainian delegation to hold a series of business negotiations and meet prospective partners. For Hanna Krysiuk, President of the Business Woman Club, this trip was a continuation of a multi-year dialogue with the Chinese side and an opportunity to see Qingdao not merely as a major industrial center, but as a city where technology, traditions, entrepreneurship, and a distinctive approach to partnership converge.
Over the course of a week, the delegation visited more than 25 manufacturing facilities and companies, held numerous meetings with entrepreneurs and business representatives, connected with the Qingdao Association of Women Entrepreneurs, and signed a memorandum of cooperation. At the same time, behind the official itinerary lay personal stories, newly forged friendships, cultural discoveries, tea ceremonies, the symbolic planting of a peace tree, and concepts for future joint projects.
Exclusively for the international magazine Business Woman, Hanna Krysiuk shared how the idea for the mission came about, what impressed her most in Qingdao, what opportunities emerged for Ukrainian business, and why, upon returning home, she continues to revisit China in her thoughts.
— Hanna Krysiuk, the Business Woman Club business mission to China has concluded, yet you say that for you it is still ongoing. What were your first thoughts and feelings after returning to Ukraine? What stayed with you the most after this trip?
— For me, this mission truly did not end with the return home. Right after the trip, we continued processing contacts, systematizing proposals, preparing inquiries for partners, and discussing subsequent steps. Yet at the same time, many personal impressions remained that simply could not fit into the official agenda.
I was deeply impressed by the scale of Qingdao, the level of technology, the business culture, the hospitality toward guests, and, of course, the people. I saw a country that I previously understood far less than I thought. And I returned with the conviction that it is essential for us not merely to visit China for isolated events, but to systematically study its experience and build long-term partnerships.
— The concept of the business mission took shape following your numerous meetings with the Ambassador of China to Ukraine, Ma Shengkun. How did this initiative originate, and why was Qingdao chosen as the first city for such a large-scale introduction of Ukrainian business to China?
— Over the past ten years, I have been repeatedly invited to China for various events, exhibitions, or simply to visit the country. But it was precisely now that I felt such a trip was necessary not only for me, but for our entire community.
The idea for the mission gradually crystallized after numerous meetings with the Ambassador of China to Ukraine, Ma Shengkun. He attended our events, forums, and thematic meetings, getting to know the members of the Business Woman Club. We shared our values, international, social, and environmental projects, as well as our development plans for the next ten years.
Subsequently, we received an official invitation to Qingdao. For us, it was important not just to visit the city, but to immerse ourselves in its business environment, meet entrepreneurs, and identify which areas of cooperation could be beneficial for Ukraine.
— In one week, the Ukrainian delegation visited more than 25 manufacturing plants and companies. Which technologies and business solutions made the strongest impression on you, and which of them, in your view, could be particularly relevant for the recovery and development of Ukraine?
— We observed completely diverse sectors: agricultural machinery, freight transport, electric vehicles and electric mopeds, textiles, food production, packaging equipment, tires, specialized machinery, air conditioning systems, mushroom and crop cultivation, beauty product manufacturing, fish farming, solar energy, metal structures, and much more.
What impressed me most was the level of automation. Across many manufacturing facilities, we saw virtually fully robotic processes—from product manufacturing and sorting to packaging.
For Ukraine, this is exceptionally relevant. Due to the war, we face a significant labor shortage, yet at the same time, we confront the immense task of rebuilding our economy and production capacity. Therefore, robotics, automation, and technological solutions represent a direction worth studying more deeply and adapting to our domestic conditions.
The topic of safety was also of distinct importance to me. We saw protective gear, equipment, and solutions designed for children and families. In the future, I would like the Business Woman Club, together with Chinese partners, to establish an educational and practical training facility in Ukraine where people can regularly acquire hands-on safety skills.
— A dedicated part of the mission was connecting with the Qingdao Association of Women Entrepreneurs. How did you perceive the Chinese women’s business community, and what do you think Ukrainian female entrepreneurs can adopt from their experience?
— We were very warmly welcomed by the Qingdao Association of Women Entrepreneurs, led by Zhang Xuming. It is a large community of business owners across diverse industries, and the sheer scale of their operations left a deep impression on me. Several women manage multiple large enterprises simultaneously, while the vice presidents of the association oversee specific operational tracks.
For me, it was important to witness not just successful female entrepreneurs, but a structured system of interaction within a women’s business community. I believe we have much to learn from each other.
At the same time, it went beyond a professional introduction. The Chinese hosts did a tremendous amount to make us feel like honored guests. We were welcomed with flowers, guided through cultural traditions, and introduced to their families and the places they personally cherish. It is precisely through such personal connections that trust is established—something without which an international partnership is difficult to imagine.
— Despite the packed business itinerary, the trip included many personal and cultural highlights—tea ceremonies, exploring traditions and the city, as well as a special friendship with one of the association’s vice presidents, whom you refer to as your “sister.” What was China like for you beyond the formal meetings?
— Those moments are perhaps the ones preserved with the greatest warmth. One of the association’s vice presidents, who spent a great deal of time with us, became very close to me. We playfully called each other sisters, and we even gave her the Ukrainian name Liliya. I think this is already more than just a business acquaintance. We agreed to maintain our friendship and stay in touch as families.
I have a great passion for minerals, so our Chinese partners organized additional visits for me that were not even on the original agenda. We visited workshops, saw jewelry and natural gemstones, and met women working in this field.
There was also an authentic tea ceremony. We sampled various types of Pu’er, learned about the traditions, and simply paused for a moment. In instances like that, you realize that international communication is not only about negotiations and contracts. It is also an opportunity to discover the culture of another country through its people.
— During the mission, the Business Woman Club signed a memorandum of cooperation with the Qingdao Association of Women Entrepreneurs, and prospective investment projects were discussed. Which specific areas of Ukrainian-Chinese cooperation would you like to develop as priorities, and what needs to happen for these agreements to turn into tangible projects?
— We signed a memorandum of cooperation covering economic, cultural, and educational spheres. During the mission, we also conducted dozens of substantive negotiations. According to preliminary estimates, the cumulative volume of prospective investment projects discussed with companies interested in joint ventures exceeds one billion dollars.
However, it is crucial to be precise: these are prospective projects, not executed contracts. Ahead lie technical inquiries, condition vetting, identifying reliable partners, legal and financial consultations, and exploring avenues for manufacturing localization.
We are primarily interested in areas essential for Ukraine’s recovery: agriculture, manufacturing, packaging, mechanical engineering, energy, technology, and other sectors. We deliberately intend to focus on Qingdao, study its capacities in depth, and progressively build economic bridges between our nations.
— You mention joint educational projects, an upcoming visit of a Chinese delegation to Ukraine, a special issue of Business Woman dedicated to cooperation with China, and even the creation of a safety training center. How do you envision the next phase of partnership between Ukrainian and Chinese women entrepreneurs?
— I see it as consistent, ongoing work rather than a one-off trip. We need to maintain meetings, learn, develop a better grasp of Chinese business culture, legal and financial frameworks, and pursue specific projects and partners.
We have already invited the Chinese delegation to Ukraine. We want to show our new friends our country, Ukrainian business, and the opportunities we offer despite all the challenges.
We are also preparing a special issue of Business Woman devoted to cooperation with China. In parallel, we are working on educational initiatives and cultivating new international relationships.
For me, this journey served as proof that major partnerships begin with small yet steady steps: getting acquainted, building trust, collaborating, and showing a genuine willingness to listen to one another. I earnestly hope that the war in Ukraine will come to an end, and I believe that economic, humanitarian, educational, and cultural ties between people and business communities can play a meaningful role in that broader process
Photo: from the Anna’s Krisyuk archive