On January 21, Ukraine and Switzerland signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Davos on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum, launching a new large-scale economic sustainability program called “Competitiveness for Ukraine’s Recovery 2026-2030.”
“The total budget of the program is CHF 30 million. It is a long-term support tool for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which is particularly important for supporting SMEs in the current difficult conditions,” said Serhiy Sobolev, Minister of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture, on Facebook.
According to him, the priority areas include agribusiness and food processing, sustainable construction, woodworking, mechanical engineering, and IT.
As specified by the Ministry of Economy, the memorandum defines four strategic areas of work, including simplifying the conditions for doing business (improving the regulatory framework, digitizing public services, and reducing regulatory pressure on entrepreneurs) and strengthening institutions (supporting business associations and regional development agencies that will help SMEs enter new markets).
This list also includes the modernization of enterprises (direct technical assistance to businesses for the introduction of green technologies, automation, and EU quality standards) and the development of human capital (joint work with the International Labor Organization to involve veterans, women, and internally displaced persons in economic processes).
The program will cover 10 regions of Ukraine where Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) are already actively working, as well as those regions covered by other Swiss-funded projects. It is expected that this approach will ensure the even recovery of communities and the creation of jobs directly in the regions.
The program is fully synchronized with state strategies and the Ukraine Facility plan, the Ministry of Economy added.
