Kyiv, November 17, 2025 — The Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, together with the Diia.Business network of entrepreneur support centres, the Entrepreneurship and Export Promotion Office, and with the support of partners, has presented solutions for the digital transformation of Ukrainian small and medium-sized businesses. 

A UNDP survey conducted in cooperation with the Centre for Innovations Development shows that almost half of Ukrainian SMEs plan to develop a digitalisation plan, while 31% of enterprises already have one. Therefore, the introduction of digital tools aims to help Ukrainian businesses implement these plans. 

In particular, the National SME Digital Maturity Framework is a comprehensive tool to evaluate, analyse and develop innovative solutions, allowing businesses to assess their level of digitalisation and determine directions for further development. 

One of the key tools presented at the event is the Virtual Pop-Up Zone, a new digital environment for promoting Ukrainian goods and services. The platform provides businesses with free access to virtual exhibitions, online sales, and partnership opportunities. It allows businesses from anywhere in the country to gain market visibility and reach an international audience, even in the absence of physical trading platforms. 

The platform was created with the assistance of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in cooperation with the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine and the Diia.Business network, with financial support from the Government of Japan, as part of the “Transformational Recovery for Human Security in Ukraine” project.

During the presentation, representatives of the government, business associations, international partners and financial organizations emphasized that digitalisation is becoming a basic condition for economic recovery. 

Ms. Valeria Ionan, Adviser to the First Deputy Prime Minister — Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine on Innovation, Digitalisation, and Global Partnerships, said in five years, Diia.Business has evolved into a full-fledged ecosystem for SME development. “The platform now has over 15 million users, and Diia.Business centres operate in 15 cities across Ukraine and abroad,” Ioan said. “Our current focus is on business digital maturity. That’s why we have already launched a dedicated Digital section on the Diia.Business portal, presented the White Paper and the Digital Maturity Matrix today, and will soon introduce new AI assistants.”

Ms. Shiho Togano, Second Secretary, Economic and Economic Cooperation Section, Embassy of Japan, said “Ukrainian entrepreneurs show remarkable resilience and creativity. The Virtual Pop-Up Zone will give MSMEs greater visibility, new partnerships, and access to wider markets. Japan will keep supporting Ukraine’s digital transformation and its path toward recovery, growth, and a just and lasting peace.”

Ms. Rana El-Houjeiri, Senior Advisor and Head of Policy and Programme Coherence UNDP Ukraine, said digital transformation today was not a trend, but a tool for the survival and development of Ukrainian business. “The virtual Pop-Up zone helps entrepreneurs open new markets, find customers, and strengthen the country's economic resilience even in wartime,” El-Houjeiri said. “We must ensure that business opportunities are not limited by geography or circumstances.”

Media inquiries: 

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