Kyiv ranked first among Ukraine’s regions in terms of net growth in the number of companies in the first half of 2026, according to Opendatabot, citing data from the Unified State Register.
The number of legal entities in the capital increased by 5,338 thousand over the six-month period. Thus, Kyiv accounted for over 40% of the total net increase in companies in Ukraine, which amounted to 13,195 thousand.
Lviv Oblast took second place with an increase of 1,220 thousand companies, while Dnipropetrovsk Oblast came in third, where the number of legal entities rose by 1,177 thousand.
An increase in the number of companies was recorded in 23 regions of Ukraine, while a decrease was observed in four.
The largest decreases were observed in regions near the front lines. In the Donetsk region, the number of companies decreased by 157, and in the Luhansk region, by 73.
Among the largest companies by revenue that have ceased operations or are in the process of liquidation, “PromoFly” leads the list with revenue of 3 billion UAH for 2025. The company is undergoing bankruptcy proceedings.
Next are “Vasaris-K” and “Volynmet,” each with revenue of 1.8 billion UAH. Both companies are also undergoing bankruptcy proceedings.
The top ten companies in the process of dissolution also include “Power UA,” “Luminovik Group,” “Grovbudgroup,” “Merezha-Service Lviv,” “Intropack Plus,” “Volt Age Plus,” and “Proteya-K.” All of them were in the process of liquidation at the time this study was prepared.
In Ukraine, 19,758 thousand new companies were registered from January through June 2026, an 8% increase compared to the same period last year, according to Opendatabot, citing data from the Unified State Register.
The number of newly established legal entities was the highest in the last three years. In the first half of 2025, 18,277 thousand companies were registered in Ukraine, compared to 18,414 thousand during the corresponding period in 2024.
At the same time, the number of business closures increased. Over the six-month period, 6,563 thousand companies were dissolved or began the dissolution process—a 28% increase compared to January–June 2025.
The net increase in the number of legal entities in the first half of the year was 13,195 thousand companies.
The dissolution statistics include companies with the statuses “Dissolved” and “In the process of dissolution.” However, companies for which the procedure has not yet been completed may subsequently regain their registered status.
The most common reason for dissolution was liquidation—3,479 thousand cases, or more than half of the total. As a result of reorganization, 1,410 thousand companies ceased operations, and 651 companies were dissolved due to bankruptcy proceedings.
Another 574 companies were dissolved based on court decisions unrelated to bankruptcy. In 440 cases, the reason for dissolution was not specified.
The Ukraine-Philippines Business Forum, attended by more than 65 representatives of companies, government agencies, financial institutions, law firms, and business associations from both countries, took place on July 23 in Makati City, Philippines.
The event opened with video messages from Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga and a speech by Philippine Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Seferino Rodolfo.
Participants discussed opportunities for developing bilateral cooperation in the agri-food sector, information technology, digital services, the food industry, creative industries, as well as in the defense sector and the field of dual-use technologies.
During the forum, the business environment in Ukraine and the Philippines was presented, along with financial and legal tools for foreign companies, the results of Ukraine’s digital transformation, and the capabilities of Ukraine’s defense-industrial complex.
Representatives from the Makati Business Club, the Nordic Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry discussed market access, attracting investment, and developing direct contacts between companies with entrepreneurs. These organizations, together with the Ukrainian Embassy, served as partners for the forum.
The event concluded with bilateral B2B matchmaking sessions, during which Ukrainian and Philippine companies were able to discuss specific projects and areas for further cooperation.
The forum was the centerpiece of the Ukrainian business mission to the Philippines, scheduled for July 23 through August 1, 2026. Its goal is to expand the presence of Ukrainian companies in the Philippine market and in Southeast Asia as a whole.
The “Yarich” confectionery group has raised $10 million from the Norwegian state investment fund Norfund, which it will use to modernize production and further develop the business, Norfund announced,
“Yarich’s impressive growth in recent years, despite the war, reflects the strength and dedication of its management and owners. Supporting strong teams and helping reliable companies achieve further growth is a key part of Norfund’s investment approach,” said Norfund Project Manager Anastasia Andriyevska.
According to the fund, the funds will be used to modernize production facilities, specifically to install a new pretzel production line, which will enable the company to expand its product range and enter new market segments.
“This investment is a strong signal of confidence in Ukrainian business and the resilience of our team. It will facilitate further expansion into new product categories and continued growth in both the Ukrainian and export markets,” said Tetyana Shermolovych, the company’s CEO.
Norfund noted that Yarych’s production site in the Lviv region, which employs about 500 people, is a key hub for export development. In recent years, the company has significantly increased its exports, primarily to Poland.
Yarych Holdings Limited is the parent company of the “Yarych” confectionery group, whose production facilities are located in the village of Staryi Yarychiv in the Lviv region. The group specializes in the production of long-lasting cookies and crackers under the Yarych brand. The holding company directly owns 84.94% of Yarych Confectionery Factory LLC, while another 15.06% is owned by Yarychiv LLC.
Norfund is Norway’s state-owned investment fund, which finances private companies and projects in developing countries with the aim of creating jobs and supporting sustainable economic development. In Ukraine, the fund operates through the Investment Fund for Ukraine, established in late 2024 to support Ukrainian businesses and attract private capital.
As previously reported, the Norwegian government allocated 250 million Norwegian kroner for Norfund’s investments in Ukraine as part of the Nansen Support Program.
In late 2025, the fund also invested $15 million in the Rebuild Ukraine Fund (REBUF), managed by Dragon Capital, and approximately EUR8.5 million in the expansion of the M10 industrial park in the Lviv region.
BUSINESS, confectionery industry, EXPORTS, INVESTMENTS, MODERNIZATION, Norfund, PRODUCTION, YARYCH
On July 6, the Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Ukraine and Kuwait held an online conference with the support of the Embassy of Ukraine in the State of Kuwait, attended by approximately 50 business representatives from both countries.
The event was co-chaired by Gennadiy Chizhikov, President of the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Firas Al-Oda, Acting Director General of the Kuwaiti Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The meeting marked the first practical event of this kind between the chambers after a hiatus of more than six years.
The main goal of the event was to establish direct contacts between Ukrainian and Kuwaiti entrepreneurs. The parties presented current trade and investment opportunities and identified promising areas for cooperation.
In his remarks, Maxim Subkh, Ukraine’s Ambassador to Kuwait, emphasized the importance of revitalizing the business component of bilateral relations, particularly in the context of involving Kuwaiti businesses in Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction projects.
Gennadiy Chizhikov, President of the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, urged Kuwaiti businesses to view Ukraine not only through the lens of the war, but first and foremost as a country of opportunities and a future member of the European Union.
Conference participants discussed the possibility of systematic cooperation through working groups in priority sectors, including agriculture, the food industry, construction, energy, IT, and logistics. The parties also exchanged contact information, presentations, and commercial proposals.
According to the data provided, trade between Ukraine and Kuwait amounted to $336.6 million in 2024 and $90.8 million in 2025. In the first five months of 2026, bilateral trade had already reached $102 million, exceeding the figure for the entire year of 2025.
BUSINESS, INTERNATIONAL TRADE, INVESTMENTS, KUWAIT, UCCI, ЧИЖИКОВ
Kredobank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) signed two risk-sharing agreements during the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC 2026) in Gdańsk for new loan portfolios to Ukrainian businesses totaling EUR100 million, the Ukrainian bank’s press service reported.
“The additional EUR100 million from the EBRD will allow Kredobank to expand lending to Ukrainian companies not only in the small and medium-sized business sector but also in the corporate segment,” the press release quoted Jakub Karnowski, the bank’s chairman of the board, as saying.
One of the agreements covers a EUR60 million loan portfolio for small and medium-sized enterprises with annual revenue of up to EUR50 million and up to 250 employees.
It is being implemented under two programs: the EBRD’s “Resilience and Livelihoods Guarantee” (RLG) and the program to support the competitiveness and inclusion of small and medium-sized enterprises in the EU’s Eastern Partnership countries.
Under the RLG, the EBRD’s share of risk-sharing will be up to 70%, and the term of the guarantee coverage will be five years.
The program to support the competitiveness and inclusion of small and medium-sized enterprises in the EU’s Eastern Partnership countries enables Kredobank’s clients to receive grant support of up to 30% for investment projects that meet the EBRD’s requirements.
The EUR60 million agreement also provides for the use of the Enterprise Security Enhancement (ESE) mechanism, which will allow Kredobank to partially write off the debt of companies whose assets were damaged as a result of the war.
Under the second agreement, implemented through the RLG program, a EUR40 million loan portfolio is provided for large companies with no restrictions on revenue or number of employees. The EBRD’s share of risk-sharing will be up to 80%, the guarantee period will be five years, and the maximum amount of a single loan will be EUR4 million.
Both agreements provide for the possibility of lending without additional collateral.
According to Karnovski, the volume of financing for Ukrainian companies within Kredobank’s portfolio, which is covered by the EBRD’s limits and guarantees, has already reached EUR249 million. The funds were directed, in particular, to agriculture, the food industry, logistics, and retail.
As of the beginning of the year, according to information on the EBRD’s website, Kredobank served over 54,000 SME and corporate clients and over 550,000 retail clients.
According to the regulator, as of May 1, 2026, the bank ranked 14th (76.94 billion UAH) among Ukraine’s 58 solvent banks in terms of total assets.
