Thesis researches peculiar features of establishment and development of agricultural business in Kyiv, Podillya and Volyn governorates in the second half of XIX- at the beginning of XX century that has become an important factor in activation of socio-economic modernization. Village entrepreneurs - mostly resellers, merchants and prosperous villagers appeared as driving force of production intensification. Under the influence of reforms in 60-70s of XIX century, in particular, abolition of servage and Stolypin agrarian reform, exploiting natural and climatic conditions of the area, land resources, capital and their business gift they have implemented the most effective methods of economy management under existing conditions: intensified growing of profitable crops (grain crops, sugar beet, potatoes, hop), development of livestock farming and combination of agricultural and industrial production. Even though, industry development was followed by exhaustion of natural resources and environment contamination and enterprises' owners increased their profits by means of cheap work force and impoverished rural population - we consider entrepreneurship of this period positive phenomenon that facilitated intensification of production. The basis for economic development of the area was large land-tenure of enterprising landowners, who used their property in land to the greatest benefit to receive profits and extend their business activities. Having created competitive commodity economy they established processing enterprises in their estates, invested their funds in the development of industry. Existence of manufacturing plants contributed to better financing of agriculture that had constantly depended on weather conditions. At the same time, agrarian sector produced raw materials necessary for sugar, flour-milling, distillery and other industries. For entrepreneurs of Kyiv, Podillya and Volyn governorates the most profitable industries were: sugar, distillery and flour-milling. Output of the said industries constituted the biggest part in the total volume of industrial production of investigated governorates. And sugar production at the end of XIX century constituted more than a half of total output of factories produce. District that comprised investigated governorates became main sugar beet district in Russian Empire. Though, in Volyn, Podillya and Kyiv districts a considerable amount of manufacturing enterprises were small scale, general processes of production concentration affected this district mostly in sugar beet industry. Characteristic feature of this time was creation of associations of manufacturers - share societies, sugar syndicate that had diversified business activity. Thus, in 1913-1914 out of 148 sugar factories that functioned in investigated governorates, 93 (almost 70%) were societies. Establishment of share societies, monopolies was caused by the need for significant funds for modernization of enterprises, that wasn't in the power of a single owner. Moreover, such associations were more endurable in competitive struggle. Ability to search for economic gain constantly was typical for societies, owners of several sugar factories. In order to gain big profits majority of enterprising manufacturers of sugar industry participated in the work of the boards of several societies of sugar factories. Representatives of multi-field business activity are the Tereshchenko, Khanenko, Symyrenko, Bobrynsky, Pototsky, Branytsky, Balashov, Sangushko, Brodskyi, Yaroshynsky and many other famous businessmen can be an example for contemporary entrepreneurs. Integration of Poles, Jews, Germans and Czechs into system of economic relations with governorates of the Right bank territories had positively influenced further development of agriculture, industry, trade and business.
