NDI and GIZ Ukraine Join Forces to Expand Access to Finance for Ukrainian Businesses

The National Development Institution (NDI) and the STEP IN 2 EU international cooperation programme, co-financed by the Governments of Germany and Norway and the European Union under the EU4Business initiative and implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop and enhance support instruments for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Ukraine.

A key area of cooperation will be the development and launch of an upgraded digital platform for MSMEs, designed to serve as a one-stop access point for information on financial instruments, business support programmes, loan products, and guarantee schemes available to entrepreneurs. The platform will also facilitate more effective interaction among businesses, banks, financial institutions, and international development partners.

The partnership will leverage international expertise, deliver capacity-building programmes, foster dialogue between the financial sector and entrepreneurs, and promote the adoption of European best practices in business support as part of Ukraine’s European integration process.

Andrii Hapon, Chairman of the Management Board of NDI, commented:

“Our goal is to improve access to finance for Ukrainian entrepreneurs while making cooperation between businesses, banks, and international partners simpler and more efficient. Our collaboration with STEP IN 2 EU will help establish a modern digital ecosystem for MSME support in line with European standards and strengthen NDI’s role as Ukraine’s national development institution supporting entrepreneurship.”

The Memorandum lays the foundation for a modern business support infrastructure that will help Ukrainian businesses access finance, scale their operations, and play a more active role in Ukraine’s recovery and long-term economic development.

The digital platform for MSMEs is being developed with the support of the STEP IN 2 EU international cooperation programme, co-financed by the Governments of Germany and Norway and the European Union under the EU4Business initiative and implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.

The programme aims to support Ukrainian government institutions in advancing the country’s accession to the European Union, particularly with regard to the economic chapters of the EU acquis. It also seeks to foster a more enabling business environment and improve access to finance for Ukrainian companies, enabling them to seize the opportunities arising from integration into the EU Single Market.