The USAID Competitive Economy of Ukraine program, Ukrposhta SC and TECHBUREAU are launching the Made in UA Support Project initiative. Within the framework of this project 100 Ukrainian craft producers, who are ready to stay in the country and are searching for the way to continue their activity, will have a chance to get $1000 in support of their brands. Applications for participation in the project start April 27 on the platform UAmadesupport.com and will last until May 10. The initiative is supported by the National Entrepreneurship and Export Dia.Business Project.

According to a survey by the European Business Association, only 17% of companies are currently working at full capacity, and about 30% are not working at all. The National Bank estimates that the war costs Ukraine's economy 50% of "unproduced" GDP, not counting losses from destruction. Many small businesses need to restart processes and restore production volumes. Those who have been able to maintain production must be helped to scale up and enter international markets. To support Ukrainian small businesses, the USAID Competitive Economy of Ukraine program, Ukrposhta and TECHBUREAU have launched the Made in UA Support Project.

"Many brands of international level have been created in Ukraine. Since 2018, we have been implementing a program that helps to create a better environment for business activities and supports innovative industries and businesses, and promotes exports and trade. With the outbreak of war, the vast majority of businesses found themselves in an extremely difficult situation. This is why, together with our partners, we have decided to support the Made in UA Support Project which will help develop a strong and open Ukrainian economy by supporting small businesses," said Olesya Zaluska, Deputy Chief of the USAID Competitive Economy Program.

The UAmadesupport.com platform will accept applications from entrepreneurs from April 27 to May 10, 2022.

To participate in the Made in UA Support Project can:

• Craft producers of physical goods - home decor, clothing, furniture, toys, etc.
• Ukrainian legal entities: sole proprietors of group 2, 3 or Ltd.
• Enterprises, which production is and will remain in Ukraine.

The selection will be made in the following way:

• Submission of applications - from April 27 to May 10
• During 2 weeks - until May, 24 the initiators of the project by an internal vote will elect 100 companies, which will receive help
• Selected companies will receive instructions on how to receive financial aid.

"TECHBUREAU is a Public Organization which specializes in creating social projects for the development of small business in Ukraine and in the world. And today, more than ever, Ukrainian small business needs support. Therefore we have decided to initiate the Made in UA Support Project, which can become the first step for many Ukrainian manufactures on the way to successful resumption of work at the market in Ukraine and abroad. We want Ukrainian products to continue to carry our culture and values to every home. We also want American spouses to drink their morning coffee from Ukrainian cups. A Hutsul rug would lie next to the fireplace in a French apartment, and Australian children would play with constructors made in my native Kharkiv," says Hanna Zenn, Director of TECHBUREAU.

Now the biggest challenge for Ukrainian enterprises is delivery. Ukrposhta has a key position in this market. Within the framework of participation in the Made in UA Support Project, the national postal operator decided to finance the organization of delivery for companies that continue to sell their goods to international markets.

"Ukrposhta, despite the war, has resumed international communication: once a week we have charter flights to New York, also our export shipments from Poland are delivered by flights of five airlines - KLM, AirBaltic, LOT, Lufthansa and TurkishAirlines. Therefore, exporters can be sure that their shipments will be delivered and that they can count on revenues from their business. In addition, Ukrposhta has appealed to leading marketplaces to review terms for Ukrainian sellers. And many have already cancelled store commissions and introduced a number of supportive measures for merchants from Ukraine. Continuing to look for ways to support Ukrainian exporters even during the war we have joined forces with our partners and together we are implementing the Made in UA Support Project. "Ukrposhta" allocates 100 thousand hryvnias for the project participants - this is money they can use to deliver goods to their customers", - says Julia Pavlenko, director of "Ukrposhta" international operations department.

The financial aid per entrepreneur is $1000*. The money can be used for any tasks to support the producer: marketing, improving the presentation of goods presented in the store, logistical purposes, production, etc.

Participants will also receive additional prizes from organizers and partners.

"Ukrposhta: 1st - promo codes for 30 thousand UAH; 2nd - promo codes for 20 thousand UAH, 3rd - promo codes for 10 thousand UAH. Eight more projects will get the promo-codes of UAH 5 ths. The clients will be able to use them when sending from "Ukrposhta" offices to any country.

Online platform for entrepreneurs Dia.Business: 10 companies will receive consultations on the definition of the priority markets, as well as reviews of the e-commerce trends in the relevant niche of the selected markets (the average cost of the mentioned services at the market is $1500).

The list of the companies, which will receive help, will be announced on May 24, 2022 on the official website of the project.

The amount of each scholarship will be the hryvnia equivalent of $1,000*.

* The amount is specified without taxes.