The Ministry of External Economic Relations and Trade of Ukraine has amended the rules on registration of foreign companies' representative offices. Applications must specify the address of the representative office (and its regional offices, if any) in Ukraine, the purpose of its formation, scope of activities and existing business ties with Ukrainian partners. If permission is required under the national law for opening a representative office abroad, a copy of this authorisation must also be supplied. Employment of expatriate staff, opening bank accounts and duty-free importation of office equipment is conditional on the availability of a certificate of registration. The representative office is under an obligation to keep the Ministry of Foreign Trade informed of any changes to the address, management and expatriate employees who must be issued with special identity cards. (Order of the Ministry of External Economic Relations and Trade of Ukraine of 18 January 1996).

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