Lviv, 9 June 2023 – The first-ever Western Ukrainian Export Forum concluded yesterday in Lviv, focusing on export potential, market trends, and upcoming opportunities for both Ukrainian and foreign exporters to and from Ukraine. During the forum, participants presented products and discussed key export trends to the European Union as well as emerging opportunities across new markets. 

More than 850 business representatives joined the Western Ukrainian Export Forum. Of them, 400 were Ukrainian exporters, and 100 were business representatives from the countries of the European Union. 

Anka Feldhusen, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Germany to Ukraine,said that the Forum was a tremendous and timely exercise for Ukrainian exports. “The overall trend is promising,” she said. “As we saw yesterday, there was a huge interest from foreign exporters, which could result in a crucial economic boost for the Ukrainian economy.”

Maksym Kozytskyi, Head of Lviv Regional State Administration, said export trade is critically important for Ukraine. “It’s not only about entering new markets,” he said. “This is to promote the country abroad. This is evidence that we can create high-quality products.”

UNDP Resident Representative in Ukraine Jaco Cilliers emphasized the tremendous challenges Ukrainian exporters, particularly those from the western regions, are currently facing. However, he added, local authorities, the Government and the international community are doing everything possible to help them flourish in the new environment. "With Russia's invasion of Ukraine, local authorities across western regions reacted swiftly by hosting and supporting relocated enterprises,” he said. "In collaboration with our extensive network of partners, UNDP is working to strengthen local businesses, particularly those involved in exports, through training workshops, policy advice, and other initiatives."

Media enquiries: Yuliia Samus, Communications Team Leader, UNDP in Ukraine; e-mail: yuliia.samus@undp.org

Background information:

The Western Ukrainian Export Forum is being organized by Lviv Oblast State Administration, UNDP and partners as a part of the “Support to inclusive economic development in Ukraine by linking export strategy with regional development and SDGs” project being implemented by UNDP in the framework of the international cooperation project ReACT4UA (“Utilization and Implementation of the Association Agreement between the EU and Ukraine in the field of trade”), that is financed by the German Government and is being implemented by the German federal company “Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH”. The forum is being co-funded under the United Nations Recovery and Peacebuilding Programme, with financial support from the European Union.