More than 100 entrepreneurs, representatives of business communities, state authorities and local governments gathered in Rivne to discuss ways to increase the region's export potential – seen as an important tool for local economic development. 

The discussion was held as part of the third “Stimulating Partnership: Government and Business” export forum, which was organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine in cooperation with Rivne Regional State Administration and with financial support from the German government. 

The event brought together participants from seven western regions of Ukraine. The main goal of the forum was to improve cooperation between the government and businesses on promoting exports during wartime, discuss ways to increase export potential, and to encourage entrepreneurs to export. 

The forum's agenda included three discussion panels and a series of Q&A sessions where participants shared their thoughts, challenges, and experiences. The following issues were discussed in particular: 

1. Existing mechanisms for strengthening institutional and financial capacity to increase exports; 

2. Key aspects of building an export-oriented business; 

3. Ways to eliminate “pain points” in export promotion; 

4. Best practices for supporting export activities in the regions. 

In his opening remarks to the forum attendees, Ralf Lowack, the Head of Component, International Technical Assistance Programme “ReACT4UA – Utilization and Implementation of the Association Agreement between the EU and Ukraine in the field of trade,” GIZ, said, “I’m convinced that both in my country – Germany – and in Ukraine, small and medium-sized businesses play a key role in the local and national economy. Their current and future contribution to economic resilience cannot be overestimated. The war is a huge challenge for the economy as a whole and every business in Ukraine in particular. That is why the support of the international community is crucial to overcome these challenges together.” 

Christophoros Politis, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative to Ukraine, emphasized that even though a full-scale war is still going on in Ukraine, the decentralization processes that started earlier should not be neglected: “For UNDP, regionalization and localization are the basis of the resilience of the whole of Ukraine,” Politis said. “As for the National Export Strategy, we, together with GIZ and other donor partners, are proud to invest in its development, including through strengthening regional strategies, as this strategy is one of the building blocks of Ukraine's recovery.” 

The forum confirmed its participants' desire to cooperate and join forces to develop the region's export potential. In particular, some panellists voiced their intention to unite representatives of Rivne business in an association of exporters to strengthen their ability to compete in foreign markets and so that experienced exporters in the region could share their experiences with novices. 

The event was held as part of the “Support to Inclusive Economic Development in Ukraine by Linking Export Strategy with Regional Development and SDGs” project, which is being implemented by UNDP in Ukraine as part of the international cooperation project ReACT4UA (“Utilization and Implementation of the Association Agreement between the EU and Ukraine in the field of trade”). ReACT4UA is financed by the German government and is being implemented by the German federal company “Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.