10 November 2017

The International Organization for Migration (IOM), Mission in Ukraine officially launched the National Business Exchange Platform in Kyiv. The Platform, funded by the British Embassy in Ukraine, is a web-resource for self-employed persons and owners of small businesses. It contains a directory of established entrepreneurs from all over Ukraine, business opportunities, educational materials, and business-related news.  

“Since 2014, IOM supported over 5,700 conflict-affected people with grants for vocational trainings, self-employment, and micro-entrepreneurship,” said Dr. Thomas Lothar Weiss, Chief of Mission at IOM Ukraine. “We wanted to further support our beneficiaries in their business activities and created a space where they could connect, communicate and unite with other entrepreneurs to develop, grow and expand their businesses. We now see that the Business Exchange Platform has become more than just a networking and educational resource – it also supports business communities and strengthens trust within the Ukrainian business environment.”

The National Business Exchange Platform is hosted and maintained by the IOM implementing partner, Business Community Club NGO. Registering is free-of-charge for everybody interested and can be accessed via the Business Community Club’s website: https://bc-club.org.ua/biznes-platforma/platform.html. In addition to online tools and resources, registered users have the opportunity to visit educational events and trainings on business development, to exchange experiences and best practices, to establish useful contacts, discuss challenges, and gain practical guidance on business improvement from leading experts.

“For these people forced to flee their own homes, it is not easy to find a new job or start their own business – especially when skills, knowledge or start-up capital may be missing,” said Her Excellency Ms. Judith Gough, British Ambassador to Ukraine. “These are true not only for displaced persons, but also for members of hosting communities and ex-combatants. We do realize how important it is to be able to provide for yourself and your family; and the difference a helping hand can make in tough circumstances.”

The importance of the Platform was acknowledged by the representatives of the Ministry of Social Policy, the Ministry of Temporarily Occupied Territories and Internally Displaced People, the State Employment Service, Kyiv Oblast State Administration and other stakeholders present at the event.