At the invitation of UNDP in Ukraine, the Fuel and Energy Business Association participated in the Government and Business Forum “SMEs of Ukraine 2035”, which brought together representatives of the state, the business community, and international partners.
The central event of the forum was the presentation of the foresight study “Ukraine 2035: SME Vision in a Competitive Entrepreneurial Economy”. Its results formed the basis for a discussion on what the Ukrainian economy should look like over the next decade and what needs to be changed today.
One of the main conclusions of the foresight: over the past five years, Ukrainian business has essentially been operating in a continuous crisis response mode. Entrepreneurs have demonstrated an extraordinary ability to adapt, but crisis management cannot remain a long-term model for the country’s development.
The war and security uncertainty, a shortage of qualified personnel, regulatory barriers, and a lack of predictable rules limit the ability of businesses to plan, invest, and scale. At the same time, decisions that could not be implemented in 2020–2023 due to bureaucratic hurdles and political fears could significantly strengthen the resilience of Ukrainian enterprises today. Delayed reforms always come at a price—and business is already paying it.
By 2035, Ukraine must transition from an economy of constant crisis management to a competitive entrepreneurial model based on productivity, private investment, the development of processing and export, business scaling, and the implementation of new technologies and business models.
Special attention during the forum was paid to European integration. It opens access to a large market, investments, and new opportunities for Ukrainian companies, but at the same time increases competitive pressure. Ukrainian business fears that without proper preparation, financial instruments, and transitional mechanisms, some enterprises may not withstand competition with European companies, which have significantly greater access to capital, technology, and state support.
On the other hand, European partners expect predictable rules, transparent administration, fair competition, and the real implementation of EU single market standards from Ukraine. Therefore, European integration should not be reduced merely to the formal opening of markets. It must become a process of modernizing the Ukrainian economy, increasing enterprise productivity, and strengthening their capacity to compete on equal terms.
Another fundamental conclusion is the need to transition from situational consultations with business to a permanent and institutionally secured public-private dialogue. Business associations must consolidate the positions of entrepreneurs, back them up with analytics, and transform the practical experience of companies into systemic proposals for the state.
The Fuel and Energy Business Association shares these principles. FEBA previously joined the Voluntary Standard of Business Association Activity in Ukraine, developed within the framework of a project implemented by UNDP in Ukraine in cooperation with the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine and with the support of Switzerland. This signifies a focus on professionalism, transparency, representativeness, and responsible representation of business interests.
For FEBA, participation in such platforms is an opportunity not only to join the nationwide discussion, but also to ensure that the voice of the fuel and energy sector is present during the formation of the state’s economic policy.
We are convinced that a strong economy is not built on backstage agreements or special conditions for individual players. Its foundation must be equal and predictable rules, fair competition, a partnership of small, medium, and large businesses, and a systemic dialogue with the state.
This is precisely what FEBA continues to work on—so that the practical experience of enterprises translates into state decisions, and the fuel and energy business is a full participant in forming Ukraine’s competitive economy by 2035.
