At the end of October 2025, representatives of Ukrainian business took part in the European SME Congress in Katowice (Poland) — one of the largest European forums for small and medium-sized enterprises. Among the participants was Nadiya Stets, Deputy Director of VKP Aria Ukraine, who represented the Ukrainian side as part of the official business mission.
The visit took place as part of the Polish Aid for Development initiative — “Support for the development of entrepreneurship and competitiveness of Ukrainian regions — continuation.”
The project is implemented by the Ministry of Funds and Regional Policy of the Republic of Poland in partnership with the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development (PARP) and co-financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland.
The mission brought together Ukrainian entrepreneurs who are implementing or planning to implement the principles of the circular economy — a sustainable approach to business based on the efficient use of resources.
“Such programs help not only to exchange experience, but also to understand how European business thinks. We see that the challenges are similar, but solutions often arise through cooperation,” said Nadiya Stets, PP “VKP ”Aria Ukraine."
The European SME Congress in Katowice is a large-scale meeting of entrepreneurs, development institutions, and government agencies, which annually identifies key trends for the SME sector in Europe.
The mission participants took part in thematic panels dedicated to:
• energy transition and the green economy;
• demographic challenges;
• business internationalization and entering new markets;
• digital transformations and innovative management models.
The participation of Vyacheslav Voynarovsky, Consul General of Ukraine in Krakow, attracted particular attention. He emphasized the importance of actively representing Ukrainian business in Europe.
“For Ukraine's successful integration into the European economic space, it is necessary to work on a high-quality presentation of the country and to form an image of a reliable partner,” the panel participants noted.
An important part of the mission was business visits to two powerful institutions in the Silesia region:
• Katowice Special Economic Zone (KSEZ) — one of the most successful in Europe, where more than 600 companies currently operate. Katowicka SSE
• The Silesia Automotive & Advanced Manufacturing Cluster, which brings together companies with a high level of technological development. Silesia Automotive & Advanced Manufacturing
During the meetings, issues related to the implementation of dual education, which combines student training with work at enterprises, were discussed. This was a particularly valuable experience for representatives of the Lviv Furniture Cluster, which is currently actively developing this model in Ukraine.
“Dual education is not just learning, but a way to train specialists who immediately understand the realities of production. Poland's experience in this area is extremely revealing,” comments Nadiya Stets.
Dozens of meetings with Polish and international companies, development institutions, and industry associations took place during the Congress. The Ukrainian delegation presented the potential of domestic business, its openness to cooperation, and its readiness to integrate into European markets.
Special thanks go to Monika Fischer (LinkedIn) for her sincere support of Ukrainian entrepreneurs, and Victoria Braga (LinkedIn) for her impeccable organization and coordination of the delegation.
Participation in the European SME Congress was not just an event — it was a powerful exchange of knowledge, management culture, and vision for business development.
Ukrainian participants returned with new ideas, contacts, and an understanding that the successful future of our economy lies in partnership, learning, and openness to innovation.
“We saw that Europe is not only about standards, but above all about mutual respect, professionalism, and a willingness to help. This experience inspires us to be more active here in Ukraine,” concluded Nadiya Stets.
Reference: The European SME Congress is an annual international event held in Katowice, Poland. The forum brings together representatives of small and medium-sized businesses, the public sector, and educational and scientific institutions. In 2025, the main theme of the Congress will be “Sustainability, Innovation, Cooperation.”
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