Andrii Goncharuk (also spelled Honcharuk; Ukrainian: Андрій Іванович Гончарук; born April 9, 1961) is a

Ukrainian Ukrainian may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Ukraine * Something relating to Ukrainians, an East Slavic people from Eastern Europe * Something relating to demographics of Ukraine in terms of demography and population of Ukraine * So ...

statesman, diplomat, and ambassador.

Early life and education

Goncharuk was born in

Kyiv Kyiv, also spelled Kiev, is the capital and most populous city of Ukraine. It is in north-central Ukraine along the Dnieper, Dnieper River. As of 1 January 2021, its population was 2,962,180, making Kyiv the List of European cities by populat ...

. He graduated from

Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv Kyiv University or Shevchenko University or officially the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv ( uk, Київський національний університет імені Тараса Шевченка), colloquially known as KNU ...

(1983). After postgraduate studies in the Institute for World Economy and International Relations (National Academy of Sciences) he was awarded a Ph.D. degree in International Economics (1988). Named senior research fellow (1991) and associate professor (2013).

A career in the Ministry for Foreign Economic Relations

After Ukraine became independent Goncharuk joined the newly created Ministry for Foreign Economic Relations, starting as head of division in 1991 and subsequently moved up having stopped at all stages of promotional ladder. In 1999 he was appointed ministerDecree of the President of Ukraine№77/99 (27.01.1999)
ukr) at the age of 37, being the youngest minister in Ukraine at that time. Between 1993 and 2003 Goncharuk actively contributed to the process of Ukraine's accession to the

GATT The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) is a legal agreement between many countries, whose overall purpose was to promote international trade by reducing or eliminating trade barriers such as tariffs or quotas. According to its pre ...

WTO The World Trade Organization (WTO) is an intergovernmental organization that regulates and facilitates international trade. With effective cooperation in the United Nations System, governments use the organization to establish, revise, and e ...

system conducting negotiations with foreign partners. He initiated and participated in development of a new direction of international relations of Ukraine – trade diplomacy.Chapter in the book "Opportunities and obligations. New Perspectives on Global and US Trade Policy" Kluwer Law International
/ref> Since 2000 he combined his state and diplomatic activities with research work and teaching. He held position of professor at the chair of international trade of

Kyiv National Economic University The Kyiv National Economic University ( uk, Київський національний економічний університет імені Вадима Гетьмана, lit=Vadym Hetman Kyiv National Economic University) is a self-govern ...

(2005–2015).Kyiv National Economic University website
/ref>

A career in private sector

After more than 10 years of civil service, in 2003 Andrii Goncharuk takes a decision to apply his knowledge in the private sector through his position of vice-president of the

Interpipe Group Interpipe Group, or simply Interpipe, is a Ukrainian industrial company, a global producer of steel pipes and railway wheels. Interpipe headquarters and production facilities are located in Nikopol, Ukraine. The network of sales offices covers th ...

where his main sphere of activities was trade policy as well as support and protection of Ukrainian companies at foreign markets.Official site of Interpipe Group
rus) At the same time (2005-2007) he continues to advise Ukrainian Government on issues of multilateral trade diplomacy, in particular on Ukraine's accession to the WTO, as an advisor to the prime minister of UkraineResolution of the Government of Ukraine № 1461/2006
(ukr)

Return to civil service

In 2008, after Ukraine's accession to

was appointed Deputy Chief of Staff of the

President of Ukraine The president of Ukraine ( uk, Президент України, Prezydent Ukrainy) is the head of state of Ukraine. The president represents the nation in international relations, administers the foreign political activity of the state, condu ...

.Decree of the President of Ukraine №271/2008 (27.03.2008)
(ukr) Being the president's de facto diplomatic advisor, he supervised all international issues, including those related to foreign economic relations. On April 15, 2013 Andrii Goncharuk was appointed Representative (Ambassador) of Ukraine to the World Trade Organization and Chair of the State Commission for Cooperation with the WTO. On February 21, 2014 has submitted a letter of resignation.Mass media were reported about resignation of three advisers of Yanukovych
/ref> Starting from April 2014 has worked closely with President

Leonid Kravchuk Leonid Makarovych Kravchuk ( uk, Леонід Макарович Кравчук; 10 January 1934 – 10 May 2022) was a Ukrainian politician and the first president of Ukraine, serving from 5 December 1991 until 19 July 1994. In 1992, he signed ...

as his diplomatic advisor. From July 2014 till September 2019 Amb. Goncharuk was an independent member of New Ukraine Institute for Strategic Studies Supervisory Council. In April 2015 Amb. Goncharuk was elected Vice-President of Ukrainian Foreign Policy Association.Andrii Goncharuk Vice-President of UFPA
/ref> Andrii Goncharuk holds the rank of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipontentiary. For his personal contribution to Ukraine's integration into the WTO, in 2008 he was decorated with the

Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise The Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise ( uk, Орден князя Ярослава Мудрого) is an award of Ukraine. It is awarded for distinguished services to the state and people of the Ukrainian nation in the field of state building, ...

5th class. Ambassador Goncharuk is a Commander Grand Cross (KmstkNO)

Order of the Polar Star The Royal Order of the Polar Star (Swedish: ''Kungliga Nordstjärneorden'') is a Swedish order of chivalry created by King Frederick I on 23 February 1748, together with the Order of the Sword and the Order of the Seraphim. The Order of the ...

(1999), Commandeur Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur (2010). He also has other distinctions of foreign states. Mother tongue is Ukrainian. He is fluent in English and Russian.

Personal life

He is married with two children and has granddaughter and two grandsons. He enjoys playing tennis, reading literature on history and is fond of

Shih Tzu The Shih Tzu (, ; literally " Hsi Shih dog") is a toy dog breed originating from Tibet and was bred from the Pekingese and the Lhasa Apso. Shih Tzus are known for their short snouts and large round eyes, as well as their long coat, floppy ear ...

dogs.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Goncharuk, Andrii Diplomats from Kyiv Living people 1961 births Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv alumni 20th-century Ukrainian politicians 21st-century Ukrainian politicians Recipients of the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, 5th class Kyiv National Economic University people