Business Development Fund strengthens support for MSMEs in cooperation with international partners

Valeriy Mayboroda, First Deputy Chairperson of the Management Board of the Business Development Fund, took part in the panel discussion “Overview of International Programs Supporting Ukrainian Business” at the Access2Finance conference.

For the fifth time, the Ukrainian Association of Fintech and Innovation Companies has organized Access2Finance – a platform that brings together financial institutions, entrepreneurs, regulators, and donors to strengthen the financial capacity of small and medium-sized enterprises.

Valeriy Mayboroda emphasized that the key task for the Fund today is to ensure Ukrainian businesses have access to affordable and long-term financial resources. Through its activities, the Fund has become one of the main drivers of entrepreneurship support during wartime: over the past three years alone, nearly 20 programs have been launched with a total budget exceeding €800 million.

Among the most successful initiatives is the state program “Affordable Loans 5-7-9%”, which has enabled thousands of entrepreneurs to access concessional financing, as well as numerous donor-funded programs targeting businesses in frontline regions, veterans, internally displaced persons, and women entrepreneurs. In addition to loans and guarantees, the Fund is actively developing grant instruments that stimulate investment, job creation, and production recovery.

Beyond financial support, the Fund provides entrepreneurs with advisory services and engages in international initiatives, including the multi-donor program “From Class to Work”, which helps businesses attract skilled workers in agriculture, transport, services and logistics.

Finally, the speaker announced that the Business Development Fund will soon be renamed the National Development Institution – the relevant draft law has already been approved in its second reading.