Entrepreneurs in Bukovyna may count on at least UAH 800 million of state support under the Made in Ukraine business support programme. In total, the budget allocates UAH 45 billion to support entrepreneurs this year. Yuliia Svyrydenko, First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine - Minister of Economy of Ukraine, said this during her speech at a meeting of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities under the President of Ukraine in Chernivtsi. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk and Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal were also present at the event.

“Bukovyna is a clear example of how industry influences the development of the region. Since the beginning of the invasion, we have been among the top three regions that have received the most relocated businesses. As a result, the region has acquired industries that were not previously characteristic of it. The share of industry in the economic structure has increased to 11.9%, the highest since 2012. As a result, we had additional funds for regional development projects. In order to keep up this pace, this year we have allocated UAH 800 million for Bukovyna as part of the Made in Ukraine policy. And the first entrepreneurs have already received the first funds,” Yuliia Svyrydenko said.

During the event, agreements were signed under the Affordable Loans 5-7-9 programme, grants for veterans, the eOselia mortgage programme for a total of almost UAH 13 million.

“The funding provided for the region is not a limit. The more actively businesses use support programmes, the more they will be able to receive. In addition, entrepreneurs may receive funds due to the priority of Ukrainian producers in public procurement. We are working with the procurement regulatory framework and with customers to ensure that they give preference to Ukrainian products whenever possible. In particular, during a trip to Bukovyna, we signed a defence order with one of the companies in the region for almost a billion hryvnias,” Yuliia Svyrydenko noted.

First Deputy Prime Minister called on local authorities to join the co-financing of projects under the Made in Ukraine platform.

“I am convinced that the role of local governments in economic development can be much greater. And our task under the Made in Ukraine policy is to provide communities with additional opportunities to stimulate economic activity in their territories. This is to support our economic sustainability and increase local budget revenues. In other words, Made in Ukraine is an opportunity for communities to earn money for their needs by developing local production,” Yuliia Svyrydenko said.

The working visit also included the opening of the regional office for support of small and microbusinesses Made in Ukraine on the basis of the Chernivtsi City Employment Centre.