The programme «EU4Business: SME Competitiveness and Internationalisation» is funded by the European Union and the German Government and implemented by the German federal company «Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH». The initiative aims to support economic stability, improve conditions for Ukrainian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), develop innovation and stimulate exports.
Grant support for small and medium-sized enterprises
As part of the project, grants of up to €10,000 were provided to 50 selected SMEs affected by the war. These funds covered expenses related to relocation, business recovery, equipment replacement, transportation for relocation or return, and other operational costs.
Selection of participants
Grant applications were collected on the Dіia platform from 25 August to 10 September 2023. After that, a commission of independent business experts selected 50 winners. Priority in the evaluation of grant applications was given to small businesses for the restoration and/or maintenance of production, the provision of services to preserve Ukraine's economic potential, and the supply of critically important goods and services needed by Ukrainians.
Key results
As a result of the selection process, companies from 18 regions of Ukraine received funding.Among the winners of the grant competition were businesses whose property was destroyed or damaged as a result of Russian shelling and which were forced to relocate. In particular, support was provided to companies in the following sectors: food production, repair and maintenance of production equipment, treatment and medical care for the population, clothing production, provision of Internet access services, window production, etc.
Thanks to funding from EU4Business and support from the Foundation for Support of Reforms, Ukrainian entrepreneurs were able to preserve and create new jobs, upgrade equipment, purchase raw materials, rent premises, take advantage of leasing, and cover other expenses necessary to restore economic activity.
‘Sometimes it can be very difficult to run a business, but when you have a “shoulder” to lean on and get support from, you feel motivated to recover and try to ’jump" even higher. The grant from the EU4Business programme for small businesses has been just such a “shoulder” for our company" — said Oleksandr Syrotkin, Director of Euro Service Ukraine Zaporizhzhia LLC.
