Rebuilding Ukraine: proactive discussions with Luxembourg SMEs

Insightful discussions on how SMEs can help rebuild Ukraine were led on 21 November 2023 during an edition of “SME’s Let’s Talk Europe!”, dedicated to the support programmes of the European Union to help rebuild Ukraine. On this occasion, the Chamber of Commerce and its Enterprise Europe Network, in collaboration with the Representation of the European Commission in Luxembourg, had the pleasure to welcome more than 30 participants for an exchange which will help nourish upcoming discussions on this important topic.  

The aim of this round table moderated by Ms Cindy Tereba, Director International Affairs, was to give an overview of the current status quo and, most of all, to offer Luxembourg SMEs, that are active or interested in Ukraine, a platform to voice their testimonies and suggestions to improve the existing initiatives and think of new synergies to put in place. 

The round table also had a forward-looking dimension: “Ukraine is much more than a country at war. It has shown that it is capable of incredible resilience and it has demonstrated an outstanding will to make substantial progress in many fields, despite a raging war. Ukraine has become a country of opportunities and the EU is keen on continuing to invest in its recovery, reconstruction and modernisation”, Ms Anne Calteux, Head of the Representation of the European Commission in Luxembourg, mentioned in her welcoming speech. 

An instructive overview of the support programmes offered by the EU was given by Mr Janis Aizsalnieks, Policy Officer, Ukraine Service, Unit E2: Economic and Sectoral Policies, Directorate General Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations (DG Near), European Commission. Among them, the Ukraine Facility is an important instrument, which should provide predictable financial support for Ukraine in 2024-2027. One of the pillars of the instrument is a specific Ukraine Investment Framework, which aims at attracting public and private investments for Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction and is therefore an opportunity for European companies.  

The Chamber of Commerce and its Enterprise Europe Network are keen on sharing opportunities to Luxembourg SMEs interested and active in Ukraine. This was highlighted in a presentation of the tender and matchmaking services, such as the Prozorro platform, included in the Chamber of Commerce’s tender alert service, the Partnership Opportunity Database as well as the EU-Ukraine Solidarity Lanes Matchmaking Platform.  

Interested companies are invited to contact the International Affairs team for more information about access to the Ukrainian market (international@cc.lu).  

For more information: 

• Presentation slides: see below 
• Factsheet “A new Ukraine Facility”, DG NEAR, European Commission – June 2023 
• Prozorro.gov.ua 
• Tender Alert Service: see section 7 
• Partnership Opportunity Database – Enterprise Europe Network 

• EU-Ukraine Solidarity Lanes Matchmaking Platform – open until 31 December 2023