Italy Joins SME Resilience Alliance, Boosting Opportunities for Ukrainian Business

07 Mar, 2025

Italy has officially joined the SME Resilience Alliance, becoming the 37th member to support Ukrainian businesses in their recovery and growth. This announcement was made during the preparatory business event "On the Path to URC 2025" in Milan, organized by the governments of Italy and Ukraine in collaboration with ICE Agenzia and the Lombardy Regional Council.

First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine, Yulia Svyrydenko, expressed gratitude for Italy’s participation, emphasizing the alliance’s goal of providing training, consulting, grants, and access to new markets for Ukrainian entrepreneurs. Italy's tradition of supporting manufacturers and creative industries will be particularly beneficial for Ukraine’s economic recovery.

A key session titled "The Potential Role of SMEs in the Recovery Process" highlighted the crucial role of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Ukraine’s post-war economic rebuilding. Deputy Minister of Economy, Tetiana Berezhna, presented the preliminary results of the alliance’s work and underscored that SMEs contribute over 80% of jobs in Ukraine. She stressed the need for financial and technical support to help businesses expand their export potential and ensure sustainable growth.

Launched during URC 2024 in Berlin, the SME Resilience Alliance unites international resources to support SMEs through investments, consulting, and capacity-building programs. The initiative is co-chaired by Ukraine’s Ministry of Economy and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

The Milan event gathered over 550 businesses and policymakers to discuss investment, financing, energy resilience, and the green transition. This forum is a crucial step in preparing for the International Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC 2025) in Rome, further strengthening Italy-Ukraine economic collaboration and fostering international support for Ukrainian businesses.

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