Points of contact at a glance
Do you do business in Ukraine? Here you can find extensive information regarding funding and assistance for your business.
The impacts of war on Ukraine affect companies in different ways. As a result, an extensive amount of information, funding and assistance is now available for companies. In addition to government organisations, chambers, business federations and NGOs provide a wide range of different support services.
Main Platforms for Reconstruction
Platform for the Reconstruction in Ukraine
On behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the German government has established the Platform for the Reconstruction in Ukraine. The platform serves as a central contact point for actors involved in the reconstruction of Ukraine and offers transparent networking and exchange opportunities for your engagement.
DREAM
The "Digital Restoration Ecosystem for Accountable Management" (DREAM) is a digital platform by the government of Ukraine, that serves as a single pipeline for reconstruction projects in Ukraine. Municipalities can create projects and introduce them to international partners in order to receive financial support and manage the construction process. The platform sets standards for integrity, accountability, efficiency, and transparency to build trust in the government and between, citizens, businesses, and financial institutions.
UkraineInvest
The UkraineInvest platform was launched by the Ukrainian government to promote foreign direct investment and to support established investors in expanding their activities in Ukraine. UkraineInvest offers investors “all-round support”. This includes providing reliable and up-to-date information as well as advisory services for doing business in Ukraine, identifying optimal investment opportunities and guiding investors through government agencies at all levels.
Business in Ukraine
Do Business with Ukrainians
Do Business with Ukrainians is a voluntary matchmaking project of Ukrainian entrepreneurs and consultants. The platform offers the opportunity to work with trusted and vetted small and medium sized enterprises in Ukraine.
#BizforUkraine
German and European companies looking for Ukrainian partners in areas such as engineering, creative industries, consulting services, ICT, architecture and logistics can find links and contacts on the #BizForUkraine platform. The project is supported by Estonian organizations and institutions.
Ministries
Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Germany’s development cooperation has been supporting Ukraine in different areas for many years. When the war started, the programmes were adapted in order to meet the acute needs of the people in Ukraine. The current development cooperation emergency programme has a volume of more than 185 million euros (as per 2023). The emergency programme is being implemented by GIZ and the KfW Development bank via partners on site.
Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK)
The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action is mainly active in two areas: firstly, it is engaged in energy policy as part of the energy partnership. This is especially important in view of the targeted Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure.
Additionally, the Ministry provides access to its foreign trade and investment promotion instruments with the aim of facilitating companies’ business activities in Ukraine and with an outlook to supporting rebuilding efforts in future.
You can find out more about how the Ministry has so far been able to offer support to help people, companies and state institutions on its website.
Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF)
The German federal government has created a set of measures to support companies impacted by the war in Ukraine. The legal basis in this case is mainly provided by the Temporary Crisis Framework of the European Commission for state aid measures to support the economy in the context of the Ukraine war. The measures are still subject to a state aid investigation and, if required, approval by the EU Commission.
Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL)
The Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) supports Ukrainian agriculture with targeted and pragmatic measures. The BMEL's support to Ukraine includes the German Food Bridge which coordinates large-scale food aid as well as financial and technical support for agricultural businesses in Ukraine.
Public Institutions
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
GIZ supports Ukraine on three levels: firstly, by making sure people receive a reliable supply of necessities, for example, electricity, medicines and emergency accommodation as well as providing the emergency services and fire brigade with equipment. Secondly, GIZ looks to the future and is involved in efforts to rebuild the country, which are just getting underway. On top of that, GIZ also gives advice on reforms that will make Ukraine capable of accession to the European Union (EU).
You can find information on all projects by GIZ on their website
Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI)
Germany Trade & Invest is the association of the Federal Republic of Germany for foreign trade and location marketing. In the current situation, the most important factor in relation to the Ukraine war is securing short-term liquidity for companies. The federal government therefore primarily assists companies and sectors by providing liquidity support.
Find out more about the economy and the impacts of war in Ukraine here.
Engagement Global
Engagement Global works on behalf of the German federal government and is financed by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. Engagement Global informs and advises individuals, civil society, municipalities, schools, the economy and foundations on matters all around development policy and provides them with funding. Useful information and reports on the current situation in Ukraine and the German partner municipalities are available in the network of German-Ukrainian municipal partnerships and on a special webpage.
German Association of Cities and Municipalities (DStGB)
With around 150 German-Ukrainian city and municipal partnerships, Germany maintains close relations with Ukraine at the municipal level. The umbrella organization of German cities and municipalities is fully committed to solidarity with the Ukrainians and, in a joint declaration by the municipalities, declares its readiness to support Ukraine in its reconstruction efforts.
Import Promotion Desk (IPD)
The Import Promotion Desk (IPD) has been active in Ukraine since 2018 and helps producers from the areas of natural ingredients, fresh fruit and vegetables and sustainable timber production in exporting their products to Europe. Besides the companies in the IPD programme, the IPD currently supports other Ukrainian producers within the framework of a special programme funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, acting as a mediator between them and European purchasers. Many Ukrainian companies continue to produce and can supply the EU market.
If you are interested in building trade relationships even in difficult times, then please contact the IPD.
International organisations
European Commission
The EU has ramped up its general economic and financial support for Ukraine so that the Ukrainian government can continue to function and fulfil its most important duties. Furthermore, the EU Commission has taken on a Temporary Crisis Framework that offers Member States the opportunity to grant limited subsidies to companies impacted by the current crisis or the sanctions imposed because of it. The aim is to ensure that companies continue to have sufficient liquidity at their disposal and compensate companies for the additional costs incurred due to the unusually high gas and electricity prices.
The World Bank
The World Bank Group has mobilised an emergency aid package in the amount of 925 million dollars to support Ukraine. This funding, which can be paid out at short notice, will contribute to financing the wages of hospital employees, the pensions of elderly people as well as social programmes for the needy. This speedy financing is part of a support package in the amount of three billion US dollars that the World Bank Group has made available for Ukraine in the coming months.
The World Trade Organisation (WTO)
The World Trade Organisation is the international body that deals with the global regulations for the trade between nations. Its main job is to ensure that trade is carried out as smoothly, as predictably and as freely as possible and that the same competitive conditions prevail for all members. The WTO Secretariat published a report on 11 April 2022 exploring the impacts of the war in Ukraine on world trade and development.
EU4Business
EU4Business is an EU initiative that assists small and medium-sized enterprises in the six countries of the Eastern Partnership – Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine – to reach their full potential and boost economic growth.
UN Global Compact Network Germany (UN GCD)
The UN Global Compact, together with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the Connecting Business Initiative, have drawn up a compact guideline for the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. This offers companies an overview of the ways they can contribute to Ukraine and, for example, how they can support UN organisations in their humanitarian efforts.
Federations and Chambers
Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK)
The Chambers of Industry and Commerce provide information to German companies with business relationships in the crisis regions via hotlines, websites and events. Bayreuth’s Chamber of Industry and Commerce has compiled extensive information about the Russia-Ukraine war and its economic impacts as well as a list of contact partners for companies.
Find out more on the webpage of the Chambers of Industry and Commerce for Upper Franconia
Ukrainian Chamber of Industry and Commerce (AHK Ukraine)
The AHK Ukraine supports companies in their business with Ukraine. You will receive competent answers to all questions concerning the establishment and expansion of business contacts on the Ukrainian market. A regular newsletter provides information about important issues.
German Eastern Business Association
The German Eastern Business Association has set up a Service Desk Ukraine to speedily process all questions, concerns and problems of companies relating to the crisis situation in Ukraine and Russia as well as the topic of sanctions. The German Eastern Business Association also provides information in the monthly issues of the “Update Recovery Ukraine” about Ukraine recovery, aid campaigns and economic developments. On top of that, the Association has also established a job portal to help Ukrainian refugees find temporary employment.
Find out more on the website of the German Eastern Business Association
German Chemical Industry Association (VCI)
The VCI Helpdesk offers information on sanctions, supply security, economic impacts, protection from cyber-attacks, humanitarian aid as well as a general FAQ.
IHK Düsseldorf
As part of the distribution of work tasks among the Chambers of Industry and Commerce in North Rhine-Westphalia, the Düsseldorf Chamber oversees agriculture in Ukraine. It is the point of contact for companies that already carry out or aim to establish business with Ukraine.
European Business Association Ukraine
Around 1,000 member companies, among them many international companies, are members of the European Business Association Ukraine. Besides representing its members’ interests, the topic of matchmaking plays a central role.