A common course for development: Ukraine and the United States enter into strategic partnerships

The United States of America has expressed its readiness to help modernize business support programs in Ukraine and develop projects to attract private investment. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) will join the discussion of the Strategy for the Development of Small and Medium Enterprises until 2027.

This was reported by the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, which noted that during a meeting between the First Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine, Minister of Economy Yulia Svyrydenko, US Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink and USAID Mission Director to Ukraine James Hope, key priorities for 2027 and initiatives under the Ukraine Facility were discussed.

The main topics of discussion were expanding opportunities for Ukrainian exports, attracting investment, and reforms in the energy sector. The meeting participants also considered opportunities for cooperation between American business and the USAID mission in implementing joint projects.

An agreement was reached that USAID will join the discussion of the Strategy for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Development until 2027, which is currently being developed by the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine. The main goal of the strategy is to help address the current problems of small and medium-sized businesses, such as access to finance, logistical difficulties, reduced purchasing power, and a shortage of qualified personnel.

Yulia Svyrydenko, Minister of Economy of Ukraine, noted that this year it is planned to modernize the programs supporting small and medium-sized businesses to increase their efficiency. She also called on her American colleagues to share their experience in supporting this sector.

Emphasizing the importance of attracting private investment, Svyrydenko emphasized the need to expand the possibilities of insuring investors against military risks. Earlier, the Government of Ukraine signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to attract investment in the Ukrainian economy.

Thus, Ukraine's cooperation with the United States in economic development is gaining momentum, creating new opportunities for business development and investment activity in the country.