Encouraging alliances between Tristate businesses and enterprises in Ukraine is on the front burner at Cincinnati*s Center for Economic Initiatives.

The concept is being promoted by the U.S. State Department, which calls Ukraine a key regional economic development support project of the U.S. government. The CEI is especially interested in matching local small- and medium-size businesses with potential partners in Kharkiv. Cincinnati*s sister city. Kharkiv is the second-largest city in the former Soviet socialist republic and is a center for industry and higher education.

Of particular interest to Kharkiv officials: converting the city*s large military plants to consumer production, attracting pharmaceuticals production, improving agriculture and food processing to expand the food supply, and improving city services.