Ukraine is launching a project to support micro, small and medium-sized businesses “UA Global: Etsy Start”, which will help entrepreneurs launch or increase sales on the Etsy marketplace for handmade goods.

As part of the UA Global: Etsy Start, 500 Ukrainian entrepreneurs will be selected on a competitive basis and will receive training on how to set up an online store on Etsy, as well as mentoring support in developing sales and promoting products on the marketplace. In addition, the project participants will receive USD 1,000 scholarships from the USAID Competitive Economy Program in Ukraine, USD 100 certificates from Etsy to promote their products on the platform, promotional codes from Ukrposhta for logistics services totalling USD 10,000 to be distributed among the participants, as well as mentoring support on logistics and customs issues.

The UA Global: Etsy Start initiative is implemented by the USAID Competitive Economy Program in Ukraine in cooperation with the NGO TECHBUREAU, in partnership with Ukrposhta and the Entrepreneurship and Export Promotion Office, with the support of Etsy. The project aims to support microbusinesses to facilitate their accelerated growth into small and medium-sized businesses. It covers both entrepreneurs who have no experience with exporting and those who have already started their export journey and are looking to grow by opening an Etsy shop.

“Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises ensure the sustainability of the Ukrainian economy, creating two-thirds of value added and 80% of jobs. One of the Government’s goals is to support businesses in entering new markets. This is also one of the goals of the SME development strategy for 2024-2027 approved by the Government. Its implementation is expected to increase the number of exporters to more than 35,000, and the volume of exports will reach EUR 60 billion, of which EUR 35 billion will be to the EU. In addition, the strategy envisages working with platforms such as Etsy. Therefore, the opportunity for Ukrainian businesses to become part of this platform supports not only these specific businesses, but the country’s economy as a whole. I am grateful to USAID for its leadership in this issue and contribution to export development. This is a good example for our other partners to build a sustainable partnership for the development of small and medium-sized businesses,” said Yuliia Svyrydenko, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy of Ukraine.

“Since the launch of the first project, Etsy Payments, in October 2023, more than 14,000 Ukrainian sellers have joined the marketplace. Before that, Ukrainian entrepreneurs did not have the opportunity to open stores on Etsy. We aim to increase the presence of Ukrainian products on the platform and open up opportunities for Ukrainian manufacturers to enter new markets. This is the second project we are implementing together with our partners. In the past, we have supported 100 Ukrainian producers through the Made in UA project, almost half of whom are represented on Etsy. This allowed businesses to generate sales of more than USD 5 million and create more than a hundred jobs,” said Olesya Zaluska, USAID Competitive Economy Program in Ukraine Chief of Party.