Most Ukrainian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that participated in the survey managed to stabilize their activities after two years of full-scale war. This is confirmed by the results of a study conducted by the company "Sociinform" commissioned by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
By the end of the second year of the war, 85% of the enterprises that remained active are operating fully, and 14% partially. For comparison, by the end of the first year of the war, these figures were 57% and 37%, respectively.
The Ukrainian business community has demonstrated high adaptability to the challenges of war. The positive growth trend, which began to be observed at the end of the first year of the war, continues to strengthen, although the situation remains fragile due to strategic uncertainty. The continuation of the war hinders business development and poses new challenges. Companies that were unable to resume operations in 2022 have closed.
In conditions of internal instability, enterprises are reorienting towards more predictable foreign markets. There is a growing demand for consulting on establishing export activities, entering foreign trading platforms, international certification, and opening businesses abroad.
Among the non-financial needs, respondents mentioned facilitating the establishment of export activities and support programs for exporters. Among the requests for expanding markets: