Ukrainian business is increasingly opening production facilities abroad: the EBRD explained the reasons

Ukrainian enterprises are increasingly actively transferring part of their production capacity abroad and entering new markets. This strategy helps companies reduce the risks associated with the war, maintain their activities and ensure financial stability.

This was stated by Lesya Kuzmenko, Associate Director and Deputy Head of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Representative Office in Ukraine, during the ISF 2026 forum.

Ukrainian companies are expanding their activities in Europe

According to the EBRD representative, the approaches of Ukrainian businesses to working in war conditions are gradually changing.

If in 2022–2023, enterprises mainly focused on survival, preserving jobs and attracting working capital, then in 2024–2025 they began to plan development more actively.

In particular, companies are opening new production facilities in western Ukraine, in Poland, Lithuania and other countries.

The main reason for such diversification remains the need to reduce dependence on one market and minimize the risks associated with hostilities.

Kuzmenko emphasized that the exit of Ukrainian enterprises abroad is a natural reaction to difficult economic and security conditions.

“This is normal, because business survives. If it were only focused on the Ukrainian market, it would simply not survive,” the EBRD representative explained.

The EBRD has invested more than 11 billion euros in the Ukrainian economy

Since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has directed more than 11 billion euros to support the Ukrainian economy.

According to Kuzmenko, initial plans provided for financing of approximately 1.5 billion euros each year, but the actual volume of support turned out to be much higher.

About 50% of EBRD investments are directed to the private sector through commercial banks or directly to enterprises.

At the same time, Ukrainian banks, despite a sufficient level of liquidity, are not always ready to actively lend to businesses due to high war risks.

To solve this problem, the EBRD uses credit risk sharing mechanisms that allow banks to expand financing for enterprises.

Does opening production abroad mean abandoning Ukraine

The EBRD emphasizes that the international expansion of Ukrainian companies does not mean stopping investments in the domestic economy.

Businesses continue to consider opportunities for developing and launching new areas of activity in Ukraine. However, some investment projects are being postponed due to the uncertainty of the security situation.

According to Kuzmenko, currently the main task of enterprises remains to maintain their activities, and diversification helps them adapt to war challenges.

At the same time, companies do not abandon long-term development plans and expansion of production.

Thus, the entry of Ukrainian businesses into foreign markets becomes one of the ways to maintain economic stability in conditions of a full-scale war.