GENERAL INFORMATION
The International Trade Centre (ITC) is a joint agency of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), established in 1964. The ITC implements projects and provides technical assistance at national, institutional and business levels.
The ITC’s activities are aimed at:
developing the export potential and opportunities of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), and their integration into international trade and global value chains;
supporting and developing the professional activities of women entrepreneurs;
trade digitalisation;
facilitating access to trade information for international trade operators;
publishing reports on key issues facing the global trading system.
CO-OPERATION BETWEEN UKRAINE AND THE ITC
ACTIVITIES TO MINIMISE THE DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES OF RUSSIAN ARMED AGGRESSION
In March 2022, as part of discussions on the ways for the ITC to assist Ukraine in mitigating the economic consequences of Russia’s war, the following areas of cooperation were identified:
The consolidated proposals regarding avenues for Ukraine’s future cooperation with the ITC, the provision of technical assistance and the implementation of future projects in Ukraine can be categorised into four main areas:
Following an analysis of Ukraine’s needs, the ITC, in collaboration with the Government of Ukraine, has drawn up a concept paper setting out the ITC’s proposed response measures in Ukraine, which are to be implemented in 2 phases:
These measures are aimed at supporting micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and displaced persons (IDPs, refugees and returnees) and include initiatives to promote the development of reliable export logistics and corridors, facilitate Ukrainian MSMEs’ access to foreign markets, and provide assistance to Ukrainian hubs and training centres in developing business skills for IDPs.
JOINT PROJECTS
As of 2026, 3 technical assistance projects for Ukraine are currently being implemented by the ITC:
1. A project to support internally displaced persons (IDPs) and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that have been relocated as a result of Russian armed aggression (‘Ukraine: Building economic resilience of conflict-affected individuals and MSMEs’). The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has allocated approximately US$300,000 for the implementation of the project in 2026.
This project aims to ensure inclusive recovery by enhancing the competitiveness in the labour market of those affected by the Russian war, particularly women and IDPs. The project will also help to strengthen the capacity of state institutions and business support organisations whose activities are aimed at facilitating domestic enterprises’ access to international markets. In particular, training sessions are planned in the Chernivtsi and Ivano-Frankivsk regions for 300 women on setting up their own businesses, connecting to local e-commerce platforms and engaging in export activities.
2. The ‘EU4Business: Building Trade and Competitiveness Capacity’ project covers three Eastern Partnership countries, namely Armenia, Moldova and Ukraine, and is scheduled to run for 4 years. The project is being implemented in partnership with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and is funded by the EU (US$6.5 million).
In Ukraine, the project focuses on integrating the country’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) into global value chains, in particular on strengthening the export potential of SMEs in the agribusiness sector (fresh and processed fruit, nuts) and the garment industry, particularly when entering EU markets, as well as on raising awareness of tools for accessing trade information. The project will be implemented in two key phases: building up enterprises’ export potential by studying and analysing the requirements for accessing foreign markets and providing technical support, as well as facilitating the establishment of links with EU markets, including by funding visits to trade fairs and exhibitions.
3. A joint project of the ITC and the EU to develop a set of practical tools to support national governments in taking gender considerations into account when formulating national trade policy and conducting trade negotiations (‘Development of the Global Trade Policy Toolkit on Women’s Economic Empowerment’).
The project draws on analytical work previously carried out in the areas of trade facilitation, e-commerce, investment promotion and public procurement to develop a set of specific tools for the design, coordination and implementation of a coherent and inclusive trade policy. It is envisaged that, through consultations with stakeholders – including Ukraine – and the exchange of technical expertise, the toolkit will be shaped by real-world experience and the latest best practices of trade negotiators and experts from various regions of the world. Furthermore, the project will highlight the unique case of Ukraine as a country which, whilst suffering from Russian armed aggression, demonstrates consistency and resilience in supporting women in trade.
Among the projects previously implemented by the ITC in Ukraine, the following are particularly noteworthy:
facilitating the entry of SMEs in the fruit and vegetable sector into foreign markets and their integration into value chains.