Odesa, April 17-18 2025 – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine, together with the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, the State Employment Service, the Odesa Regional Employment Centre and the CSR Development Centre, and with the support of the Government of Japan, has opened regional offices of the "Made in Ukraine" initiative in Bolgrad, Izmail, Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi in Odesa Oblast.

The three new offices were created in order to provide practical support to small and medium-sized businesses, as well as to help those who are just planning to start their own business. Through consultations, educational programmes, access to funding and interaction with government agencies, the offices will contribute to strengthening the region's economy and developing local entrepreneurship. 

Odesa Oblast is one of the key regions of Ukraine, with strong transport infrastructure, ports and a dynamic business environment. However, as in other regions, the war has caused significant economic losses that require rapid adaptation and new business support mechanisms. 

The new "Made in Ukraine" offices in three cities of the region will provide entrepreneurs with professional assistance, advice on starting and developing a business, access to educational programmes, as well as information about current state and international grant opportunities. 

Today, 85 “Made in Ukraine offices” are already operating throughout Ukraine. In particular, one of these, with the support of the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, UNDP, the Government of Japan and partners, was opened in the city of Odesa almost a year ago – on 30 May 2024. Over this time, more than a thousand entrepreneurs have received advice and assistance in it.   

The opening of more offices in Odesa Oblast is another step towards strengthening local economic sustainability and entrepreneurship, and expanding opportunities for citizens who want to change their lives and the country through running their own business.

During the opening of one of the offices, Yulia Zhovtiak, Director of the State Employment Centre, said: “The mission of the ‘Made in Ukraine’ offices is to create and develop an environment where businesses will be helped to scale up – at the request of employers they will be helped to find the right specialists, and be given advice on all the possibilities of state support and regional programmes. This is especially important in regions that need recovery and new opportunities, such as Odesa Oblast.”

Oleksandr Palazov, Head of the Department of Regulatory Policy and Entrepreneurship of the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, noted: “Since the beginning of the large-scale invasion by the aggressor, Ukrainians have finally understood that it is necessary to become self-sufficient as soon as possible, and move from raw materials to manufacturing entrepreneurship – to create value-added products, to supply their products to domestic markets, and to conquer external ones. That is why the main economic policy of the Government is the policy of ‘Made in Ukraine.’ I am sure that the offices are an effective platform for consolidating efforts and cooperation between local businesses and the authorities for the local development of the region, the economic stability of the country, and our common victory."

Maksym Boroda, Project Manager at UNDP in Ukraine, emphasized: “In order to determine the needs of entrepreneurs, UNDP has carried out three assessments of the impact of the war on small and medium-sized businesses. Many of the problems that the private sector is currently facing, in particular regarding access to finance, markets, human resources, and skills, can be solved through giving entrepreneurs better access to information about available opportunities to obtain state and international support. The ‘Made in Ukraine’ offices will be a great help for this.”

Background:

The regional “Made in Ukraine” offices in Odesa Oblast were set up with the assistance of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine working in cooperation with the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, the State Employment Centre and the Centre for CSR Development as part of the "Transformational Recovery for Human Security in Ukraine" project, which is financially supported by the Government of Japan.

Media inquiries:

Yuliia Samus, Head of Communications at UNDP Ukraine, yuliia.samus@undp.org