Final Event Marks Completion of Business Integrity Project for SMEs in Ukraine

 

On 12 December, Kyiv hosted the final event of the project “Promoting a Culture of Responsible Business Conduct for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in the Regions”, implemented by the Ukrainian Network for Integrity and Compliance (UNIC) with the support of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), in partnership with the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine, the State Employment Service, and the Made in Ukraine Offices.

The final event concluded a regional series of activities held throughout November in cities across the Cherkasy and Vinnytsia regions. Overall, the project organised eight training sessions, engaging 200 entrepreneurs. Thirty of the most active participants from the regions were invited to Kyiv for the closing event, which brought together business leaders already committed to implementing integrity principles in their companies.

The final event centred on turning shared values into practical managerial solutions, including internal policies, codes of conduct, compliance procedures, and tools that help businesses build trust with clients, partners, and local communities.

In his opening remarks, Bakyt Dzhusupov, Ambassador and Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities, emphasized the strategic importance of business integrity for Ukraine’s economic recovery:

“Integrity in business is essential for Ukraine’s recovery, resilience, and long-term competitiveness. The OSCE is proud to support entrepreneurs and institutions in building a fair, predictable, and trustworthy business environment as part of our mandate to promote good governance and sustainable growth across the OSCE region.”

Highlighting the initiative’s importance for national economic policy, Oleksandr Vasylchuk, Deputy Director of the Department of Regulatory Policy and Entrepreneurship at the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, noted:

“The project promoting a culture of responsible business conduct among SMEs has demonstrated strong demand from entrepreneurs. We are grateful to our partners at the OSCE, the Ukrainian Network for Integrity and Compliance (UNIC), and the State Employment Service for their support and the high-quality delivery of the training in the regions. This initiative has proven successful in its pilot phase, and the Ministry of Economy is interested in scaling it further. Ethical business is the foundation of a resilient economy and an integral part of Ukraine’s path toward the European economic space.”

The final event also included contributions from representatives of large companies and compliance experts, who shared practical experience in implementing business integrity standards and demonstrated how these methods operate in daily business processes.

According to Antonina Prudko, Head of the Secretariat of UNIC, the project’s key value lies in its practical orientation:

“It is essential for us to clearly showcase how high standards of business integrity translate into daily management decisions. The entrepreneurs we've partnered with in the regions are not only motivated but also fully prepared to implement the foundational steps necessary to establish a culture of business integrity within their companies. These initiatives are key to building trust among businesses, enhancing their interactions with governmental and international partners, and ultimately creating a strong foundation for sustainable development.”

The project's results revealed a robust demand for practical, clear, and accessible integrity tools among small and medium-sized enterprises. Project partners consider this initiative a successful pilot with significant potential for further development and expansion to other regions of Ukraine.

The initiative is implemented within the framework of the OSCE project “Promoting Good Governance and a Positive Business Climate in the OSCE Region through Digitalization and the Use of Open Data.”