On 25 February 2026, an information event entitled ‘EU4Business-EBRD Credit Line with EU Investment Grants and Other EBRD Programmes in Ukraine: Opportunities, Conditions and Practical Steps’ was held in Kyiv. The event, organised by the Ukrainian Entrepreneurs Union (UEU) in partnership with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, was attended by over 90 representatives of small and medium-sized businesses.
Opening of the event
The event was opened by Kateryna Glazkova, Executive Director of the Ukrainian Entrepreneurs Union, who noted: “We see an extremely high demand from Ukrainian small and medium-sized businesses for access to financing and practical explanations of the opportunities currently offered by international financial institutions, in particular the EBRD. At the Ukrainian Entrepreneurs Union, we pay a lot of attention to obtaining financing for Ukrainian entrepreneurs. We regularly inform businesses about new opportunities from international financial institutions and government programmes and strive to provide as much useful and practical information as possible so that companies can take advantage of the available tools to continue their work and development. This issue is particularly relevant, as businesses face the challenges of war on a daily basis — blackouts, destruction and shelling — and access to financial resources is an important factor in ensuring continuity and rapid recovery.
Joslyn Corne, Head of the Reconstruction, Energy, Infrastructure and Environment Department, addressed the participants with a welcoming speech at the opening of the event.
Jocelyn Cornet, Head of the Reconstruction, Energy, Infrastructure and Environment Section, EU Delegation to Ukraine, Hanna Tsarenko, Cooperation Development Programme Manager, Embassy of the Kingdom of Sweden in Ukraine, and Andriy Smal, Associate Director, Senior Banker, FI, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
Introduction to two SME support programmes from the EBRD and the EU
Representatives of small and medium-sized businesses learned about two SME support programmes from the EBRD and the EU: the EU4Business-EBRD Credit Line with EU investment grants and the Energy Security Support Facility (ESSF). The speakers were Stanislav Dubko , Project Manager of the Energy Security Support Facility (ESSF) and Head of the EU4Business-EBRD Credit Line Programme Advisory Team, and Danylo Sydorenko, Manager of Relations with Partner Financial Institutions of the EU4Business-EBRD Credit Line. Participants learned about available financing mechanisms, conditions and features of participation in programmes, the role of partner financial institutions, opportunities for technical and advisory support, as well as special investment incentives – EU grants that reduce investment costs. Particular attention was paid to practical steps – preparing an investment project, submitting an application, interacting with partner banks, reporting to receive investment grants, etc. During the event, entrepreneurs who have already taken advantage of the programmes shared their experiences and useful advice. In addition, participants received answers to their questions, individual consultations and a clear understanding of the next steps for participating in EBRD and EU small and medium-sized business support programmes.
“In preparation for this event, we actively communicated with entrepreneurs and saw that for many companies, the key issue is not only access to financing, but also a clear understanding of the practical steps involved — how to prepare a project, what requirements exist, and how to successfully complete the financing process. That is why it was important for us that today’s meeting be as practical as possible and help entrepreneurs move from interest to concrete action,” said Olena Hemusova, head of the International Cooperation Centre of the Ukrainian Entrepreneurs’ Union.
‘Supporting small and medium-sized businesses is one of our priorities in Ukraine,’ said Andriy Smal, Associate Director, Senior Banker, FI, EBRD. “In the context of the ongoing war, we offer Ukrainian entrepreneurs effective and transparent financing and investment instruments with a grant component for recovery, modernisation and competitiveness enhancement. We are sincerely grateful to the EBRD’s donors, in particular the European Commission and SIDA, for their significant support for this extremely important programme for Ukraine. I would also like to acknowledge our financial institution partners in Ukraine, who are working side by side with us to finance SME investments despite all the challenges of wartime. These programmes are already showing tangible results, strengthening business resilience and contributing to the country’s economic recovery.”
“EBRD programmes, supported by the EU and other donors, help Ukrainian businesses invest in decentralised energy production and storage to increase resilience to energy risks associated with the war. These programmes provide free technical support to companies, and some components of the programmes include grants for small and medium-sized businesses. The highest level of grants (up to 30% of the amount of investments financed by the loan) is provided for veteran businesses, as well as companies that have suffered from military aggression,” emphasised Stanislav Dubko, project manager of the Energy Security Support Facility (ESSF) and head of the EU4Business-EBRD Credit Line programme advisory team.
Despite the challenges of war, Ukrainian entrepreneurs, with the support of European partners, continue to develop their businesses, create jobs, expand production, modernise, enter new markets and contribute to strengthening the country’s economic stability and defence capabilities.
