PLEDDG facilitates the growth of Ukrainian SMEs for local economic development. PLEDDG Project provides technical assistance for promotion and support of local small and medium-sized businesses by helping create institutions for business support, providing advance training and skills improvement for local entrepreneurs, and ensuring implementation of local government policies related to business support.
On July 19th, the Honorable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Canadian Minister of International Development, learned about this aspect of PLEDDG work in Ukraine during a meeting with representatives of NGOs, business associations, and social enterprises, activities of which were supported by PLEDDG within the Project’s component “Support of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises Development”.
Specifically, Minister Bibeau was introduced to:
- Lviv’s NGO “Maisternia Mrii (The Workshop of a Dream)“ – a center for young people with special needs, whom PLEDDG assisted in building institutional capacity and establishing partnership relations. It was also presented with PLEDDG’s methodology for social entrepreneurship development;
- Ukrainian Organic Cluster from PLEDDG partner city Khmilnyk, which unites producers of organic products and experts in organic market development. PLEDDG Project contributed to creation of this cluster and keeps providing consultancy assistance in external marketing. PLEDDG also provides support in organization of various events to help the cluster achieve its goals;
- NGO “Business People Club” from PLEDDG partner city Vinnytsia, which seeks to improve Vinnytsia’s local economic and social development. “Business People Club” received financial help from PLEDDG SME Development Support Fund to start a business academy;
- The Center for Social and Psychological Rehabilitation “Harmony” for children and young people with disabilities, located in Vinnytsia. The organization received a grant from PLEDDG SME Development Support Fund to implement a project on social engagement of disabled people;
- Chernivtsi’s NGO “People’s Help to Ukraine”, which started the “Chernivtsi Fortel” – an initiative that provides support for local women engaged in handicraft. The organization was one of the winners of the call for gender initiatives held by PLEDDG Project jointly with the Association of Ukrainian Cities.
The Pizza Veterano restaurant, which was featured in the fair of the best Ukrainian inclusive business development models as part of PLEDDG conference on inclusive development in November 2017, hosted the meeting with Minister Bibeau.
