The
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) plans to implement 130
projects in Ukraine in 2015 under a program to provide business advice to
small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs).
"For 2015 we plan that we will have 130
projects," EBRD Director for Small Business Support Charlotte Ruhe said in
Kyiv on Wednesday.
Since the program was launched in Ukraine five years
ago, 400 SMBs operating in the food industry, wholesale and retail trade,
electronics, etc. have participated. Out of them, 360 companies have been given
advice by local consultants, others were supported by international advisers.
Experts' recommendations relate to the development of strategies for
development, marketing policy, quality management, personnel, and streamlining
business processes.
Under the program, over EUR 4.4 million was provided
as grants, and donor funds were provided by the European Union, the governments
of Sweden and the United States, the Central European Initiative Forum, the
Early Transition Countries Fund, and the EBRD Shareholder Special Fund .
According to Ruhe, the efforts resulted in a 40%
increase in sales of 71% of the EBRD's SMB clients, while more than a half
expanded their personnel, and about 15% were able to raise financing worth on
average EUR 500,000.
Out of the aforementioned projects, about 37% are
implemented Ukraine's northern regions and around Kyiv, while the central and
southern regions account for about 20% of the projects, western Ukraine
accounts for 27%, and eastern Ukraine for 15%.
Ruhe said that last year the EBRD opened a regional
office in Lviv to work with SMBs. In 2015, a similar office will be opened in
Kharkiv.
What is more, the EBRD will launch two new initiatives
for SMBs in Ukraine in 2015: support in promoting exports in the free trade
area being created between the EU and Ukraine, and a Woman in Business program.
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