European Business Association Ukraine (EBA)

Founded in 1999, the European Business Association Ukraine (EBA) serves as a platform for its members to collectively address and overcome common challenges faced by businesses in Ukraine. Originally supported by the European Commission, the EBA has grown to become one of the largest and most influential business communities in the country.

The EBA fulfills several crucial roles, acting as a trusted advisor in government relations, facilitating meaningful connections with the government, and providing guidance to fellow business professionals in Ukraine. Leveraging its strong network of prominent companies, the EBA carries out a range of impactful activities that are widely recognised for their quality. These activities include advocating for the interests of both foreign and domestic investors at the highest levels of the state, fostering connections between leading businesses, assisting companies in gaining visibility through public relations opportunities, and offering comprehensive information on the country's regulatory landscape to its member firms.

Regarding engagement with local authorities, the EBA maintains a high level of involvement, actively participating in 300+ government meetings in 2022. Additionally, the association maintains a strong engagement with the EU Delegation.

Operating through strategically located offices in major business centers like Kyiv, Kharkiv, Lviv, Odesa, and Dnipro, the EBA ensures broad coverage and a wide reach across Ukraine.

As a non-profit organisation, the European Business Association Ukraine represents the interests of European, international, and Ukrainian businesses operating in the country. With a membership around 900 companies across various sectors, the EBA promotes best international practices in Ukraine. The association offers various activities such as government relations, corporate education, business and social events, networking and promo opportunities to support its members in navigating the complex business environment. Through policy dialogue and advocacy, the EBA strives to promote regulatory reforms and enhance market access for European businesses. These efforts contribute to the development of a sustainable and responsible business environment in Ukraine, fostering economic growth and development in the region.

In conclusion, the European Business Association Ukraine plays a vital role in supporting international and local businesses operating in Ukraine. Through valuable activities, connections, and advocacy, the EBA contributes to the development of a sustainable and favorable business environment, supporting the growth and development of Ukraine’s business climate.

Publications

The EBA has a proliferous research and analytics department (Link):

White Papers: Yes, also called sometimes Business Climate Note, published semiannually. They are Strategic documents that include a set of decisions and necessary changes in the relevant areas.
Position Papers: Yes
Research: The EBA gets regular feedback from business within 12 surveys: Investment Attractiveness Index, Customs Index, Tax Index, Court Index, Infrastructure Index, Digital Transformation Index, International Compliance Index, Sustainability Index, Small Business Index, Doing business in regions, Happiness Barometer, Business Forecast. Since February 2022, the EBA has been conducting regular ad-hoc surveys on the state of businesses in Ukraine.
Investment Index: The research that reflects business sentiment regarding the current state of the country's investment climate and forecasts for the next 6 months.
Investment Map: Project that showcases specific investment opportunities and projects in different regions of Ukraine, thereby facilitating investment in the country (Link).
Annual Business Forecasts: Research where business shares projections about business dynamics, currency rate, employee salaries, staff changes, new investment projects, TOP-3 tasks from business to government, and more.
SME Index: The purpose of the study is to collaborate with small and micro-businesses to analyse growth points that will stimulate their development.
Happiness Barometer: It is an annual survey conducted by the EBA to rate the main factors influencing the quality of life in Ukraine. In 2023, the updated “Life Quality Barometer” survey was launched with a special focus on a migration issue.
News
Events

Services

Management Development Centre: A powerful platform for professional and personal development that allows member companies’ employees to improve their skills and open up new ways to solve business issues through open lectures, development programs, workshops:

International Projects: Pre-MBA Management Development
Leadership, Management and HR
Hard Skills
Marketing and PR
Law and Taxes: Online-Tax Development + ICA Advanced Certificate in Business
Sales and Negotiations
Foreign Languages
Other Programmes (Link)

Membership Benefits

Benefits for the EBA members: (Link)

Advocacy: Members can Be informed of the legislative and regulatory changes, and Resolve common issues important to Ukraine's business and investment climate.
Dialogue with Authorities: Members can Attend meetings with state officials, and Keep up to date with business insights.
Professional Development: Members can Get acquainted with current trends through open lectures; Company visits - look at the best business practices; Trainings - practically master new skills; Business games - feel themselves in a new role; Development Programs – get profound knowledge in a certain sphere.
Networking: Members can Establish partnerships with representatives of other companies at Association's events, and Meet via e-mail using the "Meet Company" option in their company profile.
Promo: Members can Share news and promote their company brand through news and articles, and Post vacancies to find qualified staff.
Regions and regional development: Members can Find a target audience in other regions, and Open up new horizons for your business across Ukraine.
Awards to Companies: The EBA gives online awards every year to the most active participants.

Advocacy

Committees: (Link) Very developed array of committees. 601 participating companies

8 Open committees (Currency Regulation and Financial Services, ESG HUB, Marketing & Communications, Customs, Tax, Regulatory Affairs, Human Resources, Food).
18 Industrial committees (Ukraine Recovery, Business Security and Protection, Subsoil Use, Agrochemical, Animal Health, Woodworking and Furniture, Electronic Payments, Energy, Grain & Oilseed, Wine & Spirits, Information Technologies, Logistics, Dairy, Healthcare, Consumer Electronics, Industrial Ecology and Sustainable Development, Retail, Tobacco).
Regional Offices: Dnipro (4 committees), Lviv (5 committees), Odesa (8 committees), Kharkiv (4 committees)

EU Projects

Second Chance Bank – an online reuse center. Since the beginning of a full-scale invasion, it was reoriented to the needs of the Ukrainian army, doctors, territorial defense members, and people. (Link)
Unlimit Ukraine – a small business and microbusiness support and development platform created on the EBA basis. (Link)
In 2022, after the war started in Ukraine the EBA launched a Global Business for Ukraine association (canton Zug, Switzerland) – an extraterritorial arm of the EBA. To help Ukrainian companies enter the global markets and global business cooperate with Ukraine and Ukrainian business. As businesses continue to work in Ukraine, stay committed to the country, however, look for some projects to develop and stay afloat. And the GB4U give such an assistance in terms of Ukrainian-global cooperation. Moreover, the general purpose of this organisation is to unite international businesses around Ukraine, strengthen trade, and economic ties, help to find partners in the country and give information to potential investors. (Link)