The Ukraine may be in the war, but it will continue to be traded and produced – and the German economy also benefits from this: the trading volume between Germany and Ukraine achieved around 11.6 billion euros – an increase of more than 18 percent compared to the previous year. Reached all -time high. The numbers show that despite the war, Ukraine is economically resilient and at the same time attractive for German and European companies. But the fact is: Ukraine needs investments and strong business partners to rebuild the country. This creates jobs for local people and perspectives for the refugee Ukrainians to return. And it offers German and European companies a potential sales market. War and reconstruction may be contradictory at first glance. Nevertheless, there is now a good time to establish and invest contacts with potential business partners and customers. In addition, Ukraine is an EU candidate. This status ensures that the government in Kiev implemented reforms for a cheaper business environment and wants to create attractive conditions for German companies and their innovations. The state is reducing bureaucracy and facilitating investments. The German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) supports the Ukrainian economy on behalf of the federal government and promotes cooperation between European and Ukrainian companies. It focuses on four areas: sustainable reconstruction of the energy supply, support of the population, good government and also specifically sustainable economic development. Spread opportunities for German corporate concrete means that the Federal Government, the European Union and other donors and European companies make it easier to enter the market in Ukraine. For example, secure the risk of investments by federal guarantees or give export credit guarantees to protect exporters from defaults in payment. There are special political and economic risks in Ukraine. In addition, there are constant Russian attacks that are an extraordinary security risk. This requires individual security concepts for companies. The Ministry of Economic Affairs has kept the Federal Ministry of War open the federal guarantees for business with and in Ukraine for German companies. In 2024, the federal government in Ukraine secured deliveries and services of more than 400 million euros. There are numerous programs and platforms that enable business initiation, convey partners and provide financial support. Destruction in the Ukrainian city of LWIW after a ractic attack by Russia. Afpie, however, do German and European companies specifically find their way to Ukraine? For example via the “Infodesk Ukraine” of the State Agency for Economics and Development (AWE). Interested parties learn about current tenders of reconstruction projects and can be advised on tenders as well as programs and funding opportunities of the federal government. Among other things, practical insights into economic structures, clusters, industrial parks and specialists can be found there. Other contact points include the national platform for reconstruction Ukraine, the Ukraine Chamber of Commerce, the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Osto committee of German Economics. Giz forms Ukrainian specialists in Ukraine great potential: it is a strategically important location in the east of Europe and offers the opportunity to train good specialists. Since 2022, the GIZ has trained and continued 64,000 people in professions relevant to reconstruction, including in the areas of construction, energy and health. In July 2025, Siemens Healthineers, together with GIZ, began to train specialists from medical technology for radiology in the health sector. In addition, local instructors are also trained, who can then train other specialists. The Siemens Healthineers initiative is supported by the “Developp” program of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The program promotes projects with companies that want to invest sustainably in a development or emerging country. Half of the initiative is financed by the company and half through Developp. It has developed a building material to renovate roads better and sustainably. The company now uses this technology in the city of LWIW to renovate the road network damaged by the war. IBS has also applied for “Developp” and receives support. In 2023, the IT sector contributed five percent to the gross domestic product and is therefore one of the load-bearing pillars of the economy. With many specialists, the country has established itself as one of the leading IT outsourcing locations in Europe. German companies also rely on it. The Ministry of Economic Affairs, for example, specifically promoted the networking of Ukrainian IT companies with the German market. The GIZ also supports the local companies in Ukraine. She advises them on alternative supply chains and locations as well as innovation processes, networked them with potential customers and grants financing. In total, GIZ has supported around 16,000 companies since the beginning of the war and enabled 530 partnerships between Ukrainian and companies in the EU.
Ingrid-Gabriela Hoven
Ingrid-Gabriela Hoven is deputy spokeswoman for the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) GmbH. She is responsible for the GIZ portfolio in Ukraine.
Image: GIZ, Gaby Gerster