# What goods or services could Ukraine sell after the war is over to help rebuild their economy **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Tags:** ukraine-invasion\ **Created:** [August 13, 2022, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-goods-or-services-could-ukraine-sell-after-the-war-is-over-to-help-rebuild-their-economy/969610 "2022-08-13T18:53:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2022, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-goods-or-services-could-ukraine-sell-after-the-war-is-over-to-help-rebuild-their-economy/969610/1 "2022-08-13T18:53:11Z")
I guess one thing I’m asking is what goods/services does or could Ukraine sell that people in wealthy western nations with a grudge against Russia could buy to help rebuild their economy? For example, Ukraine has a medical tourism industry and people could pick Ukraine for medical tourism over places like India, Thailand, Mexico, etc. They could also sell their surplus AK-47 rifles to civilians in the west after converting them into semi-auto fire, since they’re moving away from that small arms platform. I’m sure small business owners could have a lot of minor items for global export. There are likely very nice vacation spots in Ukraine for tourists to visit after this is all over. In the end it’ll take large companies investing in Ukraine to rebuild their economy, hopefully western governments incentivize that but I’m wondering what individuals can do other than the above and/or donating money. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2022, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-goods-or-services-could-ukraine-sell-after-the-war-is-over-to-help-rebuild-their-economy/969610/2 "2022-08-13T19:04:02Z")
Don’t forget about agriculture. Ukraine has been known as the breadbasket of Europe for centuries. ---
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2022, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-goods-or-services-could-ukraine-sell-after-the-war-is-over-to-help-rebuild-their-economy/969610/3 "2022-08-13T20:26:44Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > They could also sell their surplus AK-47 rifles to civilians in the west after converting them into semi-auto fire, since they’re moving away from that small arms platform. Gun control advocates in America would fight this tooth and nail (and I’m not here to debate whether these rifles should or shouldn’t be legal) but if it was approved, I think every single one would fly off the shelves. And collectors would definitely pay a premium price for rifles that were actually used in combat, with a certificate of authenticity or something. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2022, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-goods-or-services-could-ukraine-sell-after-the-war-is-over-to-help-rebuild-their-economy/969610/4 "2022-08-13T20:35:37Z")
Articulated Russian skeletons. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2022, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-goods-or-services-could-ukraine-sell-after-the-war-is-over-to-help-rebuild-their-economy/969610/5 "2022-08-13T20:55:22Z")
The export of ~~mercenaries~~ security consultants. ---
**Author:** ![Kedikat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed655f/32.png) [@Kedikat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kedikat)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2022, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-goods-or-services-could-ukraine-sell-after-the-war-is-over-to-help-rebuild-their-economy/969610/6 "2022-08-13T22:30:29Z")
It depends so much as to what the geographical situation is at the end of the war. > [@Chronos](#): > > Don’t forget about agriculture. Ukraine has been known as the breadbasket of Europe for centuries. Hopefully they will retain as much as possible, or all of this resource. With free access to export. A lot of their heavy industry was attacked. Especially anything military related. But not all. They may be able to refocus on what is left. A tighter focus can be more effective. Natural resources will still be in place. I personally think all countries should concentrate more on adding maximum value to resources before exporting. So many Ukrainians fled. How many come back? This will have a big influence on what they can do immediately. Experienced people for industry. What help will be offered? When the war is over, I would hope at least the equivalent value in weapons money will be poured in for rebuild. This will at the lowest level provide jobs, income. Emphasis on Ukraine sourced material and labor at all levels. Put in money and make sure as much as possible stays in. This will help restart a lot of the internal economy. If money is spent to rebuild factories, resource systems, wisely, it can set the base for Ukraine having a most modern, efficient, economic base. Build Back Better. Similar to after the Second World War. ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2022, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-goods-or-services-could-ukraine-sell-after-the-war-is-over-to-help-rebuild-their-economy/969610/7 "2022-08-14T01:30:25Z")
They will need to rebuild their cities. I can see them trading wheat and other agricultural products for steel, something that may be in short supply. ---
**Author:** ![FrenchDunadan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frenchdunadan/32/5449_2.png) [@FrenchDunadan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FrenchDunadan)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2022, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-goods-or-services-could-ukraine-sell-after-the-war-is-over-to-help-rebuild-their-economy/969610/8 "2022-08-14T15:21:53Z")
Ukraine produced 21 millions of tons of steel in 2021, in decrease constantly from a higher point of 35 millions in 2011. That’s about a third of russia’s or a quarter of the US, 14th world place. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2022, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-goods-or-services-could-ukraine-sell-after-the-war-is-over-to-help-rebuild-their-economy/969610/9 "2022-08-14T18:49:00Z")
To whom did the Ukrainians sell steel? From the troubles in countries not receiving gains because of the war, I believe they would do very well selling their usual crops. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2022, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-goods-or-services-could-ukraine-sell-after-the-war-is-over-to-help-rebuild-their-economy/969610/10 "2022-08-14T18:54:15Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > To whom did the Ukrainians sell steel? The Middle East, Turkey, the EU, Africa and the Americas. > **[Invasion halts Ukraine steel shipments; appetite wanes for Russian steel](https://www.spglobal.com/commodityinsights/en/market-insights/latest-news/metals/022422-invasion-halts-ukraine-steel-shipments-appetite-wanes-for-russian-steel)** > > Steel shipments from key exporter Ukraine have been halted following Russia s invasion of its neighbor early Feb. 24, according to market sources. The conflict has resulted in major disruptions to log ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2022, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-goods-or-services-could-ukraine-sell-after-the-war-is-over-to-help-rebuild-their-economy/969610/11 "2022-08-14T20:03:59Z")
Thanks, Elmer\_J.Fudd. ---
**Author:** ![Mk\_VII](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Mk\_VII](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mk_VII)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2022, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-goods-or-services-could-ukraine-sell-after-the-war-is-over-to-help-rebuild-their-economy/969610/12 "2022-08-16T17:53:23Z")
Ukrainians were seasonal agricultural workers here, and their absence is keenly felt. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2022, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-goods-or-services-could-ukraine-sell-after-the-war-is-over-to-help-rebuild-their-economy/969610/13 "2022-08-16T18:14:06Z")
It may sound macabre, but I would imagine that some sort of battlefield tourism might be something they could make money on from history buffs, military wonks, and historians. Sort of a bus tour kind of deal, where they’d get actual Ukrainian veterans to describe what happened where, etc… and maybe see some rusting Russian tank hulks, bomb craters, and so forth. I suspect the reason we don’t see this elsewhere is because most of the combat in recent decades has been in inhospitable places like Iraq, eastern Saudi Arabia, Syria, Afghanistan, etc… But Ukraine’s temperate and West-friendly, so I would imagine something like this could actually work. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2022, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-goods-or-services-could-ukraine-sell-after-the-war-is-over-to-help-rebuild-their-economy/969610/14 "2022-08-16T18:37:49Z")
Scrap from Russian military hardware. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2022, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-goods-or-services-could-ukraine-sell-after-the-war-is-over-to-help-rebuild-their-economy/969610/15 "2022-08-16T20:10:21Z")
LOL! 😆 👍 But for those wanting to help a little, you can buy handcrafts make in Ukraine. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2022, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-goods-or-services-could-ukraine-sell-after-the-war-is-over-to-help-rebuild-their-economy/969610/16 "2022-08-16T21:42:16Z")
> [@gnoitall](#): > > Scrap from Russian military hardware. Yeah, like keychains made from metal from Russian tanks. This is a ‘thing’ with airplanes. [Amazon.com : Original Aircraft Skin Tags by Aviationtag (Alitalia A321 - White - I-BIXN) : Health & Household](https://www.amazon.com/Original-Aircraft-Skin-Aviationtag-Alitalia/dp/B08VRLQ1QL) ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2022, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-goods-or-services-could-ukraine-sell-after-the-war-is-over-to-help-rebuild-their-economy/969610/17 "2022-08-17T17:56:30Z")
Right now they are raising thousands of euros by auctioning off the rights to slogans and personal messages to be written on out-going armaments. Like we did in WW2: [![](https://media.gettyimages.com/photos/12th-june-1944-airmen-of-the-us-8th-aaf-paint-slogans-on-their-bombs-picture-id3066958?s=2048x2048) ](https://media.gettyimages.com/photos/12th-june-1944-airmen-of-the-us-8th-aaf-paint-slogans-on-their-bombs-picture-id3066958?s=2048x2048) ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2022, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-goods-or-services-could-ukraine-sell-after-the-war-is-over-to-help-rebuild-their-economy/969610/18 "2022-08-22T12:59:52Z")
Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were already being talked up as “city break” tourist destinations before all this (if not yet in the stag/hen weekend lists), and no doubt there are Black Sea beach resorts. But how much reconstruction would be needed before that becomes viable again, who knows? And whether tourism could ever be a major economic contributor…? ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2022, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-goods-or-services-could-ukraine-sell-after-the-war-is-over-to-help-rebuild-their-economy/969610/19 "2022-08-22T13:05:22Z")
Ukrainian cities are sort of a long haul for a stag/hen weekend from the UK, aren’t they? ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2022, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-goods-or-services-could-ukraine-sell-after-the-war-is-over-to-help-rebuild-their-economy/969610/20 "2022-08-22T13:10:26Z")
Not much further than the [Baltics](https://www.pissup.com/blog/five-awesome-reasons-baltic-stag/) (I do apologise in advance - I counted at least half a dozen companies offering this sort of event in the UK market) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-goods-or-services-could-ukraine-sell-after-the-war-is-over-to-help-rebuild-their-economy/969610.md?page=2)