Odeskabel, a leader in the Ukrainian cable and wire manufacturing industry, proudly shares its transformative journey through the Export Academy 2024 program. With a rich legacy spanning over 75 years, Odeskabel continually pushes the boundaries of innovation and customer satisfaction, enhancing its export capabilities. Today, we gathered insights about the Export Academy and its impact on the company’s operations from two representatives who actively participated in the program over the past three months: Oleksii Filipov and Olexandr Petkov.
Who is Odeskabel?
Located in the heart of Odesa, Odeskabel boasts over 50,000 square meters of state-of-the-art production and storage facilities. Founded in 1949, Odeskabel has grown to become the undisputed leader in the production of communication cables in Ukraine and one of the foremost manufacturers in Eastern Europe. Specializing in telecommunications cables, the company produces a wide range of copper and fiber-optic communication cables, radio frequency cables, and digital or LAN cables, which are in high demand across the European Union. Additionally, Odeskabel offers power cables, wires, and cords for various purposes.
The company has consistently innovated, introducing products like heating cables for underfloor heating systems. Its catalog now includes over 10,000 product variations. Odeskabel prioritizes producing high-quality products at competitive prices, making it a trusted name in the market.
Odeskabel serves major clients across industries such as telecommunications, energy, construction, machinery, and mining. Key customers in Ukraine include leading telecom operators like Ukrtelecom, Vodafone, Kyivstar, and Lifecell, as well as entities like Ukrenergo and Naftogaz.
Export Experience and Challenges
Since beginning its export journey in 2000, Odeskabel has made significant strides in markets across the European Union, Eastern Europe, and beyond, including Moldova, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Algeria. Specializing in energy and telecommunications cables, the company has faced numerous challenges, such as meeting diverse country standards, building brand trust, and overcoming logistical hurdles.
“We encountered difficulties in finding new markets and partners, ensuring compliance with European standards, and establishing efficient logistics. Our advice to other companies is to conduct thorough market research, foster partnerships, and prioritize product certification,” representatives from Odeskabel shared.
Participation in Export Academy 2024
The Export Academy 2024 program was a game-changer for Odeskabel, refining its market entry strategies. Key takeaways included:
– Building new connections with partners from the Baltic countries and other promising regions.
– Developing effective export strategies.
– Utilizing tools for market analysis and customer segmentation.
“The practical case studies, discussions of real business situations, and the professionalism of the trainers impressed us the most. We have already started applying the knowledge gained, and the initial results are evident,” the team noted.
Discoveries and New Opportunities
The program opened up numerous opportunities for Odeskabel. The program has helped us systematize our approach to entering new markets. We recently consolidated our cables for energy companies in Lithuania and Latvia, primarily leveraging the knowledge gained from the previous Rebuilding Task Force Programme and this training course at the Visionest Institute. We have strengthened our cooperation with partners in the Baltic States, which has already produced initial results.
Exceeding Expectations and Satisfaction
Participation in the program exceeded the company’s expectations. “The program surpassed our expectations. We gained knowledge that we immediately began to apply in practice,” Odeskabel representatives shared.
They expressed high satisfaction with their participation: “Undoubtedly, we are very satisfied. This was an extremely valuable experience that we will scale within our company.”
The interactive learning format and open atmosphere for idea exchange also left a positive impression on the team. “The program’s structure encouraged active participation and collaboration, making it a truly enriching experience,” they added.
Future Plans
Looking ahead to 2025, Odeskabel is set to make a grand entry into the German market. They have developed a project to enter the German market with a line of cables designed for connecting solar panels that we manufacture ourselves. This project is scheduled to launch in 2025. The company also aims to expand its footprint in the Scandinavian countries and strengthen its position in Central Europe.
“The opportunity to be part of the global market and provide clients with high-quality products motivates us the most, despite the challenges Ukraine is facing,” the team summarized.
Lessons and Recommendations
Odeskabel underscores the importance of understanding regulatory requirements and legislation in each export market to avoid delays.
“Invest time in researching the requirements and be prepared to adapt. This ensures long-term success in international markets,” they advised.
Conclusion
Participation in Export Academy 2024 was not just an educational milestone but a strategic leap forward for Odeskabel’s export development. Armed with newfound knowledge and the unwavering support of Visionest Institute, Odeskabel is poised to strengthen its international presence and confidently stride into the future.
Export Academy 2024 is part of Creating Export Training Platform in Ukraine project developed by Visionest Institute Estonia and implemented in cooperation with Ukraine’s Entrepreneurship and Export Promotion Office within the framework of the Diia.Business Ukrainian national project.
This project is supported by ESTDEV – Estonian Centre for International Development.
