Brilliant Ukrainian computer designers – and trade

It’s February, which means it must be time for the annual awards ceremony for the computer-aided design competition for universities organised by Birmingham-based Delcam, one of the world’s leading suppliers of advanced CADCAM (computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing) for industry. Having hosted several such receptions before and visited Delcam’s 10-year anniversary of cooperation with Ukrainian universities in Zaporizhia last November, I’m not surprised to find the room crammed with university rectors and students who have been working on everything from advanced composite materials to orthopaedic shoes and interior designs for yachts. But it’s encouraging to learn that Delcam’s sales in Ukraine and Russia were up around 30% in 2011. It’s also good to hear that, having established links with 22 top Ukrainian technical universities, Delcam is now beginning to work with schools in Ukraine, representatives of which are among this year’s prize-winners. This kind of cooperation is a win-win for all concerned.

On the subject of increased sales figures, the latest statistics for trade between Ukraine and the United Kingdom for 2011 show that both exports from the UK to Ukraine, worth £543 million in 2011, and exports from Ukraine to the UK, worth £362 million, increased by around 24% last year. This puts total trade between the two countries in 2011 at approaching £1 billion. These impressive figures show that British and Ukrainian businesses are doing a great job, as is the hard-working and well plugged-in commercial team in the embassy. Congratulations all round.

PS I’ve just received links to the winners of the Delcam university competition and the school competition – if you’re interested in CADCAM, take a look.