The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has opened a regional office for southern Ukraine in the city of Odesa on Tuesday, May 30, the Bank said in a statement.
”Strengthening and deepening its outreach in Ukraine, the EBRD has opened a new regional office in the southern city of Odesa, the country`s naval gateway on the shores of the Black Sea and one of its most important industrial centers,” the statement said.
The Odesa office is the EBRD`s third representation outside the capital, Kyiv, and will serve as a hub for the southern regions of Ukraine. The operational expansion is supported by the European Union (EU) through the EU4Business Initiative.
”Southern Ukraine has always played an important role in EBRD operations in the country, especially in sectors such as agribusiness, logistics, transport and infrastructure. The new office will allow the EBRD to work closer to local clients and will offer access to expert advice for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs),” the Bank said.
The EBRD, together with its strategic partner the EU, also supports operations of 15 business support centers across Ukraine, one of which is also located in Odesa. These centers aim to raise awareness among local SMEs about the opportunities available under the EU4Business Initiative and will serve as main contact points for small enterprises throughout Ukraine. This is in line with the Delegation Agreement signed between the EU and the EBRD on May 20, 2016 on providing support to SMEs, including the creation of a network of business support centers across Ukraine.
The EBRD is the largest international financial investor in Ukraine. To date, the Bank has made a cumulative commitment of almost EUR12.2 billion through 377 projects since the start of its operations in the country in 1993.
