The EU funded project assisted SME development in Ukraine

February 26, 2005.

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    Final presentation of the project results - Kyiv, 01 March 2005
    The project ‘Improving of SME Environment in Ukraine’, with a budget of 2,850,000 EUR, was implemented by a consortium led by ECORYS (the Netherlands) during two years in Ivano-Frankivsk and Volyn Regions. The Project Partners are the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine and the Regional State Administrations of Ivano-Frankivsk and Volyn. The primary purpose of the project was to assist in the improvement of the environment for small and medium sized enterprises (SME). The project focused on four main components:
    1. Regulatory reform through diminishing administrative barriers
    Within the 2 Regional- and 6 selected raion administrations reduce the burden of regulation and licensing on the business community. Encouragement of a “pro-business” regulatory environment through training, dialog, seminars/workshops as well as training programme. Results achieved:
    post registration one-stop-shop opened in Ivano-Frankivsk;
    many changes in local legislation favourable to entrepreneurs as a result of public-private dialog;
    9 mini projects are implemented in Volyn Region;
    support has been rendered to 2 Region- and 6 District SME development Programmes;
    260 civil servants were trained under comprehensive training programme;
    23 State Registrars took part in project seminars and study tours;
    6 study tours to experience best practice on SME support organised to the Czech Republic, Serbia, Poland, Latvia and some regions in Ukraine.
    2. Promoting and encouraging access of and usage of business development services
    Improvement of the capability and capacity of the regional training and consultancy sector. The project was to stimulate the quality and quantity of supply of training and consultations through qualification improvement of the local Business Services Providers. It stimulated usage of business services by entrepreneurs through the establishment of a network for service delivering in the raions and cities it operated. A promotion campaign through brochures as well as radio and television supported the sector. Results achieved:
    professional qualification improvement of trainers and consultants;
    large number of entrepreneurs trained and consulted;
    infrastructure for Business Services delivery established;
    6 Business Centers are now operational in Bolekhiv, Horodenka, Yaremche (Ivano-Frankivsk Region), Volodymyr-Volynskij, Kovel, Luboml (Volyn Region);
    variety of products on offer increased: many new training and consultancy products developed and introduced to the market;
    Business Incubator for starting entrepreneurs established in Ivano-Frankivsk.
    3. Increase the ability of SME to access micro-finance
    Support to a large number of Credit Unions in their re-registration process, the products they provide and professionalism of staff, through training and study tour to Poland. Business Service Providers were encouraged to produce new training curricula in the sphere of micro-finance and deliver these on location. Information provision on micro-finance topics to SME. Results achieved:
    data base on credit providers operational in two project regions;
    23 Credit Unions were supported in their re-registration and more professionalism;
    information provision to entrepreneurs through training/consult and printed materials secured.
    4. Development and dissemination of best practice models of business support
    Select, develop, test and disseminate the best practice models for SME support on the regional and national level. Achieved results:
    10 best practice models for SME support were developed, published and disseminated; 7 models prepared in "turn-key" format;
    large number of products focusing on SME support developed, published and distributed; more 45 products, more 60 recipient organisations in the target regions and across Ukraine, 45,000 copies in total;
    2 national conferences on improving the SME environment in Ukraine and dissemination of best practices were organized, as well as other promotion and dissemination events;
    7 models of best practices were practically implemented in two target regions; it demonstrated their feasibility, viability and possible replication elsewhere in Ukraine.
    This event will give the opportunity to jointly discus the existing problems in the development of the SME sector in Ukraine and the role for national and regional authorities, international donor programmes and NGOs concerned, representatives of which are also invited.
    SME-related materials (books, brochures, CD-ROMs, etc.) produced by the project will be disseminated.
    The meeting will take place on 01 March 2005 at VneshExpoBusiness Centre, 25 Turgenevska Str., 5 floor, in the small conference hall.
    Agenda
    Welcome
    11.30 - 12.00
    Presentation of the project results
    12.00 - 13.15
    Discussion
    13.15 - 14.00
    Informal discussion, reception
    14.00 - 16.00
    Please contact the Kyiv project office for details.