On Wednesday, Sep 19 USUBC hosted a business roundtable with Rostin Behnam, Commissioner, U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), and other experts to discuss  "BENEFITS OF WELL DEVELOPED COMMODITIES MARKETS FOR BUSINESS IN UKRAINE".

CFTC Commissioner Behnam made a presentation about the importance of financial and commodity derivatives to manage risk and conduct business. In particular, Mr. Behnam  shared his experience and insights on: (1) The benefits of a commodities market to business, (2) the role of producers and end users in a commodities market, (3) moving beyond spot and forward trades to help manage risk, and (4) the importance of regulation to a successful commodity market. 



The program also featured (Left to right in the picture): 

- Vadym Mosiychuk, State Reserve Agency of Ukraine; 
- Michael Bleyzer, Founder and CEO, SIgmaBleyzer; 
 - Rostin Behnam, Commissioner, U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC); 
 - Dr. Robert Bond, USAID Financial Sector Transformation Project /DAI;
 - Morgan Williams, President, USUBC/Moderator;  
 - Kateryna Konashchuk, Vice-President of Commerce, AgroGeneration; 
 - Leonid Kozachenko, Member of Parliament of Ukraine; 
- Timur Khromayev, Head, National Securities and Stock Market Commission

The mission of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) in the United States is to foster open, transparent, competitive, and financially sound markets. By working to avoid systemic risk, the Commission aims to protect market users and their funds, consumers, and the public from fraud, manipulation, and abusive practices related to derivatives and other products that are subject to the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA), www.CFTC.gov. 

USUBC is very grateful for the opportunity for its members to meet with Commissioner Behnam in Kyiv. 

The following companies attended this event: Agrogeneration; AGROXY; AmCham; Archer Daniel Midland (ADM); Astarta; Baker & McKenzie; The Bleyzer Foundation; Cargill; CMS Cameron McKenna; Deloitte; EBRD; European Federation of Energy Traders (UFET); EY, KPMG; Louis Dreyfus Company  (LDC); National Securities and Exchange Commission; National Securities and Stock Market Commission; OLIR Resources; Sayenko Kharenko; State Reserve Agency of Ukraine; Ukraine Commodity Clearing; SigmaBleyzer; Ukranaftogaz; Ukrainian Exchange; USAID Financial Sector Transformation Project /DAI; U.S. Commodity Futures Commission (CFTC); US Foundation People of Ukraine; U.S. Peace Corp and others. 

Rostin Behnam, Commissioner of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Wash, D.C. ---
Rostin Behnam was nominated by President Trump as a Commissioner of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission on July 13, 2017, and was unanimously confirmed by the Senate on August 3, 2017.  His term as a Commissioner  extends to June 2021. Prior to joining the CFTC, Mr. Behnam served for six years as senior counsel to U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow of Michigan, Ranking Member of the Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee. He was responsible for policy and legislation related to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the Department of Agriculture.


Prior to his legislative service to Senator Stabenow, Mr. Behnam practiced law in New York City and worked at the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General. Mr. Behnam is a graduate of Georgetown University and earned a J.D. from the Syracuse University College of Law. Learn more: https://www.cftc.gov/About/Commissioners/RostinBehnam/index.htm

USAID Financial Sector Transformation Project ---
The USAID Financial Sector Transformation Project is a four-year program (October 2016 – December 2020) funded by the United States

The Roundtable was co-sponsored by the U.S.-Ukraine Business Council (USUBC), www.USUBC.org, and the USAID/Financial Sector Transformation Project, Kyiv, Ukraine