The Netherlands–Ukraine Business Forum and Company Visits were held in the Netherlands — a large‑scale platform aimed at strengthening business and investment cooperation between the two countries. During the event, the Doing Business Guide for Dutch Companies in Ukraine was presented — a practical guide developed by BDO in Ukraine on behalf of Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO).
The forum was organised by the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine in cooperation with the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ukraine, Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), The Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI) and Kyiv School of Economics (KSE). The event brought together representatives of business, investors, government agencies and international financial institutions.
Why cooperation with the Netherlands matters for Ukraine’s economy
The Netherlands is one of Ukraine’s key economic partners with deep expertise in the agricultural sector, water management, renewable energy, healthcare, circular construction and logistics. Thanks to their innovation, pragmatism and openness to cooperation, Dutch companies are well positioned to contribute to Ukraine’s recovery and modernisation already today.
Doing business guide for Dutch companies in Ukraine
At the forum, BDO in Ukraine presented the key findings of “Market study on Reconstruction in Ukraine. International opportunities for Dutch SMEs” — a practical guide developed by the company on behalf of Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO). The guide was presented by Vira Savchenko, CEO of BDO in Ukraine, and Andrii Borenkov, CFA, Partner and Head of Advisory.
What the guide covers:
- market entry opportunities and practical indicators of demand
- financing routes and donor identification
- financing, regulatory compliance and risk assessment issues
- partner strategy and the first‑90‑days checklist
And importantly, it will include not only Dutch support programmes and opportunities in Ukraine, but also relevant EU and other international mechanisms, together with practical roadmaps, draft approaches, examples, and use cases.
Successfully entering the Ukrainian market requires more than simply selecting a product or sector. Businesses must follow a clear sequence of actions. A structured and disciplined approach helps reduce risks, improve predictability, and build a solid foundation for scaling. That is why this guide offers a step-by-step entry model that enables companies to act systematically rather than intuitively.
“We are not trying to describe Ukraine in abstract terms. Our goal is to demonstrate where business cooperation is already working and how Dutch companies can choose an effective route to enter the Ukrainian market. Businesses do not need another general overview — they need a practical tool to identify real demand, define the optimal market entry path and ensure reliable supply chains and payments from the very beginning,” — said Vira Savchenko.
Prompts that make matchmaking useful
According to Ms Vira, the effectiveness of partner matching largely depends on how well prepared both sides are when entering the discussion. For Dutch companies, it is important to come with one clear use case, a defined type of object, a realistic schedule and clear answers to key questions: who buys, who signs the contract, who pays and through which channel.
Ukrainian companies, in turn, should demonstrate the project maturity — from budget and identified buyer to permits already in place — clearly define the cooperation format, and outline the first pilot step that proves scalability. This level of clarity makes meetings truly productive and allows both sides to assess cooperation potential from the outset.
We sincerely thank the organisers and participants of the Forum for the meaningful dialogue and practical interaction. Creating tools that help businesses engage with Ukraine confidently is of paramount importance to us.
BDO in Ukraine continues to develop analytical materials, sector studies and information guides for investors, government agencies, as well as entrepreneurs and companies planning to enter the Ukrainian market. If your organisation requires a similar practical guide or customised analytical support for operating in Ukraine, we look forward to supporting you.
