Switzerland is investing approximately $36 million (30 million Swiss francs) in the development of a competitive and sustainable private sector in Ukraine as part of the “CORE: Competitiveness for Ukraine’s Recovery 2026–2031” program, with Ukrainian businesses and organizations receiving the majority of these funds in the form of grants.
According to the Ministry of Economy and Environment of Ukraine following the program’s presentation in Kyiv on November 4, funding is provided through the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), and the program is implemented by a consortium of Helvetas and NIRAS in cooperation with the International Labor Organization (ILO).
Grant support is provided under four main components: the development of regulatory solutions and public-private dialogue; the development of priority economic sectors and business associations; co-investment grants for the modernization of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs); and the improvement of labor policy and labor productivity.
In addition, the program provides for the launch of the “Strategic Advice Window,” which will provide the Ministry of Economy and Environment, business associations, and SMEs with access to international and Swiss experts. Most of the grant funds will be allocated based on the results of competitive selection processes following preliminary consultations with potential applicants.
As noted, the CORE program is part of a broader support package for Ukraine from Switzerland totaling 5 billion Swiss francs through 2036 (of which 1.5 billion francs are earmarked for 2025–2028). The parties signed a memorandum on the implementation of the initiative in Davos in January 2026.
