OPIC Project Finance Director John Didiuk reflects on his recent attendance at the EBRD’s Annual Meeting and Business Forum in Cyprus, where he joined discussions about the investment climate in Ukraine. Since 2014, OPIC has more than quadrupled its portfolio to support the Ukraine’s growth and stability through greater private sector development. With multiple projects that support lending to local SMEs, OPIC has more than $500 million invested across 16 active projects to access financing.

SMEs are a major contributor to job creation and opportunity in many sectors of the country’s economy, including agriculture, which accounts for about 14% of Ukraine’s GDP. While limited transparency and existing regulations make for a challenging business environment, OPIC continues to move forward its SME agenda to further grow Ukraine’s development.