By KYIV. Dec 8 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Unstable energy, water, heat and communications have become a key challenge for business – 87% of participants in the American Chamber of Commerce (ACC) survey conducted in late November and early December indicated it, while this challenge was absent in the August survey among the main ones, and the approach of winter was called a challenge by only 4% of respondents.
"The biggest business challenges for companies are instability with electricity, water, mobile network, or heat supply (87%), safety and security of employees (74%), logistics and transport (43%), decline in partners’ businesses (32%), and absence of clients or orders (22%)," the report says.
"After more than 288 days of the war, 70% of ACC member companies are fully operational, while 30% operate partially. 98% of companies plan to continue operating in Ukraine in 2023," it said.
"94% of businesses think a possible winter energy blackout won’t prevent Ukraine from winning the war. 95% believe Russia should pay war reparations to Ukraine," the agency said.
"ACC Ukraine member companies continue to pay salaries after almost ten months of the war. 88% pay full salaries and 9% have reduced salaries. Only 1% could not pay salaries at all," according to the document.
"31% of respondents indicate that their organization’s plants/factories/facilities/storehouses/offices have been damaged: 71% of them have minor damage, 29% – have unrepairable damage. 66% of member companies had no damage during almost ten months of the war," the report says.
"The business representatives were asked a difficult question on the safety and security of employees. 59% of respondents said that all of their companies’ employees are safe. Sadly, there were painful numbers also, with 20% of companies’ having instances of employees injured and 19% having instances of employees killed," it reads.
"96% of ACC Ukraine member organizations continue to provide humanitarian support," it said.
"The business community was asked about when Ukraine’s post-war rebuilding and reconstruction will begin. 57% of the respondents think it will start in 2023; 31% – in 2024; and 6% – in 2025," the chamber said.
"122 CEOs and top managers from ACC Ukraine member organizations took part in the survey, conducted from November 28 – December 7, 2022. 75% of the respondents are CEOs, 25% – top managers," the report said.
