A government initiative has been launched to boost digital trade and innovation between the UK and Ukraine.
The TechBridge partnership will support investors and entrepreneurs from both countries seeking to launch new ventures, products and services.
It follows the Ukraine Recovery Conference hosted in London last June by the UK Government and a formal Digital Trade Agreement signed in November.
The conference aimed to put in place a series of strategic actions, including economic development, in response to Russia’s unprovoked invasion on February 24, 2022.
Minister for industry and economic security Nusrat Ghani met with Ukrainian deputy minister of digital transformation Oleksandr Bornyakov in London today to unveil the TechBridge partnership.
Ghani said: “As Minister for Ukraine Reconstruction, I am delighted to be launching this fantastic programme, building connections between the UK and Ukraine tech companies.
“Ukraine’s tech sector has provided crucial support throughout the war and is key to the country’s resilience and future recovery.
“By building partnerships between British and Ukrainian businesses and promoting innovation, we are demonstrating the power of trade, and are helping lay the foundations for Ukraine’s long-term recovery opening up future opportunities for businesses on both sides.”
The initiative will seek to facilitate digital trade and investment by supporting relationships between high potential Ukrainian businesses and UK tech firms and investors, and through a series of virtual “missions” in priority sectors such as healthtech, agritech and fintech.
A number of UK-based tech companies have worked together to present a set of free online training opportunities alongside in-person and online expert discussions for Ukrainian businesses looking to develop their skills.
The programme will ensure that both British and Ukrainian tech businesses sectors have access to each other’s markets for commercial opportunities, making the most of the UK-Ukraine Digital Trade Agreement.
The TechBridge website is accessible as of today, and in-person missions for Ukrainian companies will start as early as March. Organisations or individuals are invited to sign up to receive more information as we continue to build the offer and set up specific events.
Oleksandr Bornyakov, Ukraine deputy minister of digital transformation, said: “The UK-Ukraine TechBridge is a platform that brings together the potential and the expertise of both Ukrainian and UK’s tech sectors.
“Its launch provides crucial support for Ukraine’s IT industry.
“I am confident that, through the UK-Ukraine TechBridge, numerous large-scale joint projects will be implemented, setting an example of successful, mutually beneficial international partnership for other countries.”
The UK remains a key partner for Ukraine’s reconstruction efforts and this programme adds to the UK’s commitment to ensure UK companies are well-placed to maximise their contribution to one of the largest infrastructure programmes globally.
