REGULAR MEETING OF THE PROJECT STEERING COMMITTEE WAS HELD ON 5 JULY 2022

During the online meeting of the Steering Committee of the ITC project “Linking Ukrainian SMEs in the Fruits and Vegetables Sector to Global and Domestic Markets and Value Chains” on 5 July 2022, the participants summed up the project results of 2021 and agreed on activities plan until the end of 2022.

The stakeholders discussed the need for measures aimed at simplifying the logistics and international trade procedures, in particular the harmonization of sanitary and phytosanitary requirements between Ukraine and partner countries.

Project beneficiaries, including SMEs and business support organizations, emphasized the importance of the systematic approach in maintaining relations between Ukrainian exporters and their partners abroad.

Economic integration of internally displaced people, business under martial law and its recovery after the liberation of the territories and the end of hostilities, were discussed.

The Steering Committee meeting was attended by Elin Karlsson, First Secretary of the Embassy of Sweden, Analyst and Programme Officer, Inclusive Economic Development; Armen Zargaryan, Programme Coordinator, Regional Trade Promotion Adviser of the Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, ITC; Alena Kolomoitseva, National Project Manager; Oleh Yukhnovskyi, Head of the Agriculture Committee under the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry; representatives of state authorities, heads of professional associations and project beneficiaries from different regions of Ukraine.

“The Swedish Embassy has been supporting Ukraine in the framework of economic reforms, democracy, environmental protection and building resilience. And this has not changed by now. The war has confirmed that Ukrainians have talent that inspires, so it is a great privilege for us to work with you, in particular within the framework of the ITC project, to fulfil the goals set on the ground,” said Elin Karlsson.

The donor confirmed that the geographical coverage of the project is enlarged to country wide. And given difficulties faced by Ukrainian SMEs, a bigger proportion of cost coverage was approved to be provided by the project for trade fair participation, study tours and missions in 2022.

In 2022, a midterm evaluation of the project activities will be scheduled. Then, the stakeholders will meet again to discuss the evaluation results and to plan further activities.

Alena Kolomoitseva announced a number of activities planned as part of the project until the end of 2022. Companies in the fruit and vegetable sector and the nut sector will be provided support in the implementation of GLOBALG.A.P. as the internationally recognized standard for farm production, advisory in the development of individual Export Market Plans and assistance in improving marketing materials.

In addition, study visits for Ukrainian F&V growers, berries and nuts producers have been scheduled to Great Britain and Sweden. Export potential of the F&V and edible nut sectors will be presented within the framework of international trade fairs Fruit Attraction 2022 in Madrid, Spain and SIAL Paris 2022 in France.

Ukrainian winemakers are provided technical support through trainings on grape wine production technique in compliance with international quality and safety standards, awareness-building trainings for vineyards, small and medium-sized winemakers on the best approaches towards the application of the principles of sustainable development in viticulture and winemaking, and strengthening the capacity of business support organizations.

Study visits to Georgia and Armenia are planned for the representatives of state and private institutions of the wine sector in autumn 2022.