An interview was conducted by Oilprice.com with Yuri Boyko, the previous Ukraine Prime Minister:

Oilprice.com: The knee-jerk reaction would be that Russian aggression in the Crimea is a red flag for investors; but is it possible that we're looking at a potential new opportunity here instead--perhaps a catalyst for a new era of Ukrainian energy independence?

Offshore oil rigYuri Boyko: Absolutely. What Moscow wants out of all of this is to halt Ukraine's European integration process and to delay its signing of the AA/DCFTA [Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement]. It would also like more control over key strategic assets, particularly the gas transit system. But Moscow's actions in Crimea after the ouster of Yanukovych in February could very easily spur Ukraine's move towards Europe and away from Russia. Now more than ever, the West—and Ukrainians themselves—see the need for energy independence and the connection this has to the Western world.

Oilprice.com: The shale gas revolution has changed the geopolitical landscape of energy for America—and perhaps for the world. What could this mean for Ukraine, its current crisis and threats emanating from Russia?

Yuri Boyko: I believe that with support from Washington and the European capitals, energy can be an important tool in preserving Ukrainian sovereignty in the face of the recent Russian aggression in Crimea and its threats against Eastern Ukraine.

Ukraine's new government in Kiev needs Washington's support on energy as part of an overall effort that includes sanctions, both in the short- and long-term, in order to change the balance of power in Central Europe. Oilprice.com: Amid these defensive options against Russia, what is a longer-term plan for Ukraine, for Ukrainian energy, and for oil and gas wealth buried in Ukrainian shale?

Yuri Boyko: This is where the new Ukrainian government will play a critical role, providing policy, technical and financial guarantees for American and European companies to develop our substantial natural gas reserves.

Chevron and Shell are currently in the process of exploring the massive shale fields in both the east and west of Ukraine. But Ukraine also needs oil field service providers, technical expertise and education programs to expand our own domestic supply as in the US.

Again, this is where Washington can help, by sending advisors to Kiev, perhaps from DOE [Department of Energy] and FERC [Federal Energy Regulatory Commission].

According to Duncan Wood, Director of the Mexico Institute at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, the economic integration between NAFTA partners resulted in this interconnected supply chain and has helped U.S. manufacturers "maintain competitiveness by importing parts and components" from low-cost Mexico while keeping high-value activities in the U.S. The supply chain of large production facilities serves customers in three countries with a combined population of 470 million. As a result, the average U.S. import from Mexico contains 40% U.S. content, compared with only 4% U.S. content in imports from China, and 25% from Canada.

To strengthen North America's momentum in world export markets, grow the number of jobs, and spread their supply chains, the government needs to intensify its efforts in co-producing products and services in advanced manufacturing industries, including aerospace, computers and pharmaceuticals.

Learjet 85 is a prime example of a North American success story. Bombardier, a Canadian firm based in Montreal, took over Learjet, an American firm, in 1990. The engine of the plane was designed by Americans Pratt & Whitney, built in Canada, and manufactured in a Mexican factory. Without NAFTA, a tri-national product like the new Learjet would never have been possible.

Now that we're looking to the future, the highest priorities that need to be addressed include:

Streamlined pre-clearance systems need to be put into place to avoid congestion at the borders.

Trade negotiations such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) must be finalized in order to open more markets for North American goods and services.

NAFTA members should undertake further initiatives in trade, innovation and education to create a hub of entrepreneurship and cooperation.

A serious commitment is needed on the part of North American leaders in taking NAFTA to the next level to ensure a win-win proposition for all parties involved to grow and compete in this global economy.

"We are excited about this opportunity to work together with Apex-Brasil. Brazilian firms are increasingly making job-creating investments in the United States," said Hyatt. "Foreign direct investment is about mutual success - Brazilian firms that succeed in the world's largest market can create more jobs in both countries. Our team at SelectUSA looks forward to welcoming more Brazilian investors and assisting them as they establish their operations in the United States."

FDI from Brazil into the United States has been growing rapidly. At the end of 2012 - the latest year for which numbers are available - the total stock of Brazilian FDI in the United States stood at $14 billion, nearly 10 percent higher than in 2011. U.S. subsidiaries of Brazilian firms exported $5.7 billion of goods from the United States in 2011.

"The United States is a priority market for Brazil, not only by its size and global importance - which are indisputable - but also by the historical ties that bind the two nations and their peoples," said Porto. "This Memorandum of Intent between Apex-Brasil and SelectUSA reinforces the bilateral relationship between these two nations and will certainly foster bilateral foreign direct investment."

Many U.S. firms are also succeeding in the Brazilian market. In 2012, the stock of FDI from the United States into Brazil totaled $79 billion.

The U.S.-Brazil Commercial Dialogue was established in 2006 with the goal of fostering improved cooperation between the Department of Commerce and the Brazilian Ministry of Development, Industry, and Foreign Trade, with the mutual goal of increasing bilateral trade and investment. The Dialogue focuses on developing better mutual understanding and developing win-win strategies. Since the previous session in February 2013, officials from the Department of Commerce and the Brazilian Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade have been working together on a variety of technical issues important to the flow of bilateral trade, including trade statistics, movement of goods and services, capacity building for trademark processing, a wide range of standards issues, and FDI.

The MOI fulfills a key commitment of the U.S.-Brazil Commercial Dialogue and reinforces the strong commercial relationship between the two countries. Under the terms of the MOI, both parties will seek to act as central points of contact for existing and potential foreign investors who seek investment opportunities and information on bilateral investment flows. The parties will seek to provide assistance to investors in contacting appropriate investment and industry experts in the United States and Brazil.