Poland Offers Support for Firms Entering Ukrainian Market

Polish companies are actively seeking to expand into the Ukrainian market, with Poland's Foreign Trade Office in Kyiv and Lviv providing crucial support. Businesses primarily inquire about finding reliable partners, understanding market regulations for their products, and ensuring their goods meet Ukrainian legal requirements, especially regarding certifications.

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Polish entrepreneurs usually ask for a database of potential partners for cooperation. Exporters look for information about the sales market, whether their product can enter the market, but also information about legal regulations regarding the introduction of a given product, for example, cosmetics, to the Ukrainian market, and whether Polish and EU certificates will be honored by Ukrainian law.

Entrepreneurs often approach the office after identifying potential collaborators, seeking verification of these partners' trustworthiness and any connections to Russian or Belarusian capital. While such problematic associations are rare, the office also advises against partnering with companies exhibiting suspicious financial structures or overly broad business scopes.

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We also advised against such partners, as well as companies that had very low share capital, very many PKD codes – from cleaning to construction services. This raises suspicions, and we pass such information on to entrepreneurs.

To facilitate market entry, the Polish government has assembled the Team Poland initiative, pooling resources from institutions like the Polish Development Fund, KUKE, PAIH, BGK, PARP, and ARP. This collaboration offers comprehensive support, including financing options, transaction credits, and export contract insurance, aiming to mitigate initial risks for Polish businesses.

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The Polish government has prepared an offer from institutions gathered in the Team Poland group under the umbrella of the Polish Development Fund. There are KUKE, PAIH and BGK here, as well as PARP and ARP. We have various possibilities for financing and crediting transactions, as well as insurance of export contracts.

PAIH's offices in Kyiv and Lviv provide a database of potential clients and on-site experts familiar with the local language and market specifics. They assist businesses with initial steps, such as establishing trade operations and negotiating contracts, and often recommend vetted Polish-speaking legal and accounting firms. This integrated approach aims to streamline the process for Polish entrepreneurs navigating the Ukrainian business landscape, even amidst ongoing security concerns.

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Business can enter the Ukrainian market, insure its contract, and mitigate the risks that arise at the beginning. In addition, we, as PAIH, give them a database of potential clients, and our offices in Kyiv and Lviv are at the disposal of every Polish entrepreneur.