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New opportunities for Ukrainian SMEs: e-commerce coaching from EU4Digital

21.07.2023 Press and information team of the Delegation to UKRAINE

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Ukraine are invited to apply for supported participation in the EU4Digital eCommerce consultations centre programme. Following the success of an initial collaboration between EU4Digital Facility and the International Trade Centre (ITC) to support these activities, the organisations are delighted to announce renewed cooperation. As a result, there is a new opportunity for 11 more Ukrainian companies to benefit from eCommerce training and consultations.  

The first batch of 30 participants began the eCommerce consultations centre programme in April and has now successfully completed activities. These included SMEs from Moldova, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as five from Ukraine. Later in April, five more Ukrainian SMEs were selected from among the original pool of applicants. Their participation was supported by ITC, with funding from the Japanese government, as part of the collaboration with EU4Digital.

In the eCommerce consultations centre programme, these companies learned how to register and start selling on EU marketplaces. As a result, many of them have successfully registered, listed products and achieved their first sales. 

The next 11 SMEs that will benefit from the EU4Digital and ITC support are being selected specifically from Ukraine. The focus is on highly motivated companies that are willing to start selling on EU marketplaces within the coming months.  

The eCommerce consultations centre will: 

  • Provide four group training sessions covering specific eCommerce topics and selected marketplaces;
  • Provide audio / video / written individual consultations (5 hours per company);
  • Cover the following marketplaces: Amazon, eBay, Etsy, Zalando, Pigu, Allegro, OTTO, Bol and Kaufland. 

After the training sessions the participating Ukrainian SMEs will be able to:

  • Register on international marketplaces (as listed above) and create product pages;
  • Choose the right products for eCommerce and devise appropriate marketing strategies;
  • Effectively administer and serve customers through their marketplace accounts;
  • Use the logistics opportunities provided by the marketplaces;
  • Understand reasons for account / product blocking;
  • Find solutions for emerging legal, tax, logistical and other challenges related to eCommerce.

How to apply

If your company is a Ukrainian SME and eligible to take advantage of this special opportunity for eCommerce consultations centre training, please apply using the linked online form. 

The deadline for applications is 31 July 2023 at 16:00 CEST (Brussels time).

Further information 

The EU4Digital eTrade stream’s eCommerce consultations centre supports the ability of SMEs in the Eastern Partnership (EaP) region to conduct digital trade and expand their sales. The ultimate aim is to scale up for a larger number of EaP SMEs and support a 50% increase in EU-EaP cross-border eCommerce. 

The partnership between ITC and EU4Digital will help to unlock the potential of e-commerce for more businesses in Ukraine, leveraging digital technologies to help them reach new markets and increase their competitiveness when selling to EU customers. The involvement of ITC also highlights the potential of collaboration between large international organisations and the EU-funded EU4Digital Facility to promote economic growth and development in the EaP region. 

Find out more about the EU4Digital eCommerce consultations centre and the eTrade activities. 

See also