On August 1, First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine - Minister of Economy of Ukraine Yuliia Svyrydenko and Deputy Minister Tetiana Berezhna discussed with representatives of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) measures to increase the number of participants in grant programs.

“We want to increase the rate of involvement of entrepreneurs in the eRobota program and the USAID Competitive Economy Program in Ukraine. Under each of the programs, Ukrainians can receive grants and start their own business or expand an existing business. Currently, together with USAID, we are discussing how to optimize both programs in order to create even more opportunities for Ukrainians to do what they love and support the economic front,” Yuliia Svyrydenko noted.

In general, during the year, the participants of the eRobota program received grants in the amount of UAH 4.5 billion. It is not only about business, but also about new jobs, of which 20,000 were created during this period.

The Own Business (Vlasna Sprava) area, or in other words - micro-grants, is the most popular component of the program, which helped to attract UAH 336 million in taxes to the budget, which is a significant support for the state budget.

According to the USAID Competitive Economy Program in Ukraine, which recently expanded almost three times - up to UAH 92 million, small and medium-sized entrepreneurs can receive about 120 grants in the amount of UAH 600 thousand – UAH 1.2 million.

“It is important for business to work and support the state in a difficult period, and the Government with international partners made grant programs even more convenient and accessible for Ukrainians,” Tetiana Berezhna added.

The meeting was attended by Erin Elizabeth McKee, the Assistant Administrator of the Bureau for European and Eurasian Affairs at USAID, Theodora Dell, Director of USAID, Kim Kim Yee, Deputy Director, Economic Growth Office at USAID.