The Foundation for Support of Reforms in Ukraine is implementing a project within the international cooperation programme ‘STEP IN 2 EU’. Its aim is to accelerate Ukraine’s integration into the EU Single Market by harmonising trade policy and technical regulations, as well as strengthening institutional and entrepreneurial capacity. 
The main task is to ensure the transition from strategies to their practical implementation. The project involves creating tools for day-to-day use, developing data-driven solutions, and engaging a wide range of stakeholders in their development.
The project covers four interconnected areas:
• development of trade and exports as the basis for economic integration with the EU;
• the internal market and the ACAA agreement;
• support for small and medium-sized enterprises;
• institutional development and capacity building for civil servants involved in EU accession negotiations.
“This project is strategically important for Ukraine’s economic integration with the EU, as it combines work across key areas of economic policy. This comprehensive approach will ensure sustainable and tangible results for the development of Ukrainian business,” says Andrii Teliupa, Project Director.
The implementation of the project helps to create a more predictable business environment, reduce barriers for exporters and integrate EU requirements into the day-to-day operations of public institutions and businesses.
Export development and new opportunities for Ukrainian businesses
One of the project’s main areas of focus is the development of trade and exports. An important step in this area was the approval by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine of Ukraine’s Export Strategy up to 2030.
The strategy sets out a long-term vision for the development of Ukrainian exports and outlines key priorities: the development of export-ready goods, entering new markets, partnerships with European companies, support for small and medium-sized enterprises, promotion of the ‘Made in Ukraine’ brand, and the creation of conditions under which Ukrainian exports can grow in a systematic and predictable manner.
As noted by Olha Gvozdova, an expert at the Foundation for Support of Reforms in Ukraine and an adviser to the Entrepreneurship and Export Promotion Office:
‘The new Export Strategy will not yield results tomorrow morning. Its success will be measured over years and through the persistent efforts of both government bodies and the business sector, and ultimately by the very figures already set as indicators: the share of non-raw material exports, the ratio to GDP, and Ukraine’s position in European value chains. But the direction is set correctly — from a country that sells raw materials to one that sells solutions and technologies.”
Read more about the strategy in Olha Gvozdova’s column.
2nd International Trade Forum
The 2nd International Trade Forum, held on 9 July 2026 in Kyiv, served as the official platform for presenting and discussing the practical implementation of the Export Strategy.
The event brought together representatives of the Government, the business community, international partners and the expert community to discuss practical steps for implementing the Strategy, developing Ukrainian exports and deepening Ukraine’s integration into the European Union’s Single Market.
During the forum, participants discussed how to translate the launch of Ukraine’s Export Strategy to 2030 into a practical action plan for the state, business and international partners. The focus was on restoring export potential in the context of the war, increasing the share of high value-added products, integrating Ukrainian companies into the EU Single Market, removing trade barriers, developing financial instruments, insuring against war risks, digitising export procedures and strengthening institutional support for business.
A video recording of the forum is available via the link.
The project is implemented by the NGU ‘Foundation for Support of Reforms in Ukraine’ within the international cooperation programme ‘STEP IN 2 EU’, which is co-funded by the Governments of Germany and Norway, the European Union under its EU4Business initiative, and the Governments of Lithuania and Estonia. The programme is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.
