Theoretical aspects of foreign economic activity of institutional units in Ukraine

Introduction. The research is devoted to the genesis, determination of definitions, theoretical aspects of the development of foreign economic activity of institutional units and tendencies of its normative and legal regulation.Methods. The theoretical and methodological basis of the research is the works of leading scientists on foreign economic activity, legislative and regulatory documents that regulate the foreign economic activity of institutional units. The following scientific methods were used in the process of research: induction and deduction, analysis and synthesis - during theoretical generalizations, formation of relevant conclusions; bibliographic - research of literary sources to obtain necessary information on the topic of research the method of associations and analogies - for the proposed new ideas and suggestions that arise on the basis of comparison with other more or less similar objects.Results. The article explores theoretical and organizational and practical principles of defining the essence of the concepts of “foreign economic activity” and "foreign economic relations” in the current conditions of economic development. The types of such activities are considered and it is concluded that state regulation of foreign economic activity in Ukraine under conditions of liberalization should facilitate the establishment and development of foreign economic relations of the institutional units of the country with foreign counterparties.Discussion. Prospects for further research see the study of international experience in conducting foreign economic activity and foreign economic relations and the mechanism of state regulation of foreign economic activity of institutional units.Keywords: foreign economic activity, economic activity, foreign economic operation, export, import, foreign entities, world market.