EU, GIZ implementing project to support small and medium-sized businesses in Ukraine

As part of the agreement between the European Union and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on the implementation of a project to increase the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises and facilitate their entry into the international market, Ukrainian small and medium-sized enterprises will receive operational support in the face of an aggravated coronavirus pandemic, said the EU Delegation to Ukraine.

The project will begin to mobilize grant support and related consulting services to mitigate the impact of the crisis on small and medium-sized businesses, as well as, if possible, contribute to its recovery.

“This project is part of the pandemic support package that the EU mobilized in early spring to help Ukraine. Its goal is to provide tools of practical support to small and medium-sized enterprises, which should help businesses get through this crisis and improve development prospects after its completion,” said Frederic Cuneo, Head of Cooperation Programs at the EU Delegation to Ukraine.

According to the regional director of GIZ in Ukraine and Belarus Bernadette Neu, it is important for the EU to support the gradual growth of the Ukrainian economy in the face of crisis and uncertainty.

“We are pleased to join the EU’s initiative to improve competitiveness and facilitate the entry of Ukrainian small and medium-sized enterprises into international markets. We support this initiative within the framework of our instruction from the German government to facilitate the development of trade between Ukraine and the EU. In the current situation, the package of support measures for Ukrainian small and medium-sized enterprises aimed at overcoming the pandemic consequences is of particular importance,” she emphasized.

It is expected that from 2021 the project will interact with a number of business support organizations to improve the level of service delivery to small and medium-sized enterprises, on the acceleration of innovation and digitalization.