More than 160 entrepreneurs from Ukraine and beyond took part in the East Export Forum on 8 November, organised by the Kramatorsk Business Support Centre, supported by the EBRD within the framework of the EU4Business initiative.
The First Secretary of the Trade and Economic Section of the EU Delegation to Ukraine, Joselin Gyuton, told participants how with the coming into force of the DCFTA, all EU markets were now open to Ukrainian exports. And Oksana Holovko, Director of the Department of Investment and Innovation Development and External Relations of the Donetsk Regional State Administration, outlined what the authorities were doing to help businesses in their export activities.
Others spoke of the challenges facing SMEs, including legal barriers for Ukrainian exporters to enter foreign markets.
A discussion panel was also held on agricultural exports, discussing the export of organic products, food safety issues, and co-operation as an export development tool.
The participants of the forum also had an opportunity to hold individual talks with representatives of the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry abroad, and with international organizations and projects, from EU member states and as far afield as China and Canada.
The Kramatorsk Business Support Centre is part of the EU-funded Network of Business Support Centres, which aims to improve the competitiveness and bankability of Ukrainian SMEs through the provision of business advice and capacity building. It also supports BSOs in 15 regions of Ukraine in setting up a network of EU4Business Business Support Centres (BSCs). At least 30,000 SMEs and entrepreneurs benefit from the project.