As fighting intensified in Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk Oblast in 2023, Anton Savchenko moved his small skateboard factory from Pavlohrad to nearby Dnipro. It was the second time he had to relocate the business to keep it running.But the move solved only part of the problem. Soon, another threat emerged, putting the future of the business itself in doubt. In a country at war, demand for skateboards had all but disappeared.Rather than shutting down, he began looking abroad. Today, he ships his boards to skaters in the United States and across Europe, far from the air raid sirens near his workshop.Near Kyiv, entrepreneur Anna Rudenko has made a similar pivot to foreign markets. She designs and produces functional toys and decor for children's rooms. What began as a small wartime workshop has grown into a business that ships products to customers in Australia and the United Kingdom.Both are among the Ukrainian entrepreneurs supported by Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation, an international organization that develops models of economic resilience for small and medium-sized companies and helps them grow and reach new markets.Their stories are far from unique. Since the start of the full-scale war, many Ukrainian businesses have had to rethink where and how they sell their products. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are often described as the backbone of Ukraine's economy, yet just 18% of Ukrainian SMEs export their products — the lowest share in Europe. For many companies, breaking into international markets remains difficult.“The war has shown that small and medium-sized businesses can adapt quickly,” says Mariana Kaganiak, an expert in international economic relations and lead for economic recovery at Helvetas. “But many entrepreneurs lack the resources, knowledge, or staff needed to work with foreign markets.”The difficulties Ukrainian exporters face today are rooted in a longer economic shift that began a decade ago.A decade of economic realignmentAfter the 2014 Revolution of Dignity, Ukraine sharply reduced its economic ties with Russia, which had previously accounted for about half of the country's exports. At the same time, the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) with the EU gave businesses an opportunity to reorient toward the European Union and other global markets.That transition was not easy. While the EU’s free trade agreement opened access to a large market, Ukrainian companies had to meet the same regulatory standards as established European firms, often without comparable levels of state support.Participant of the training for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) on entering and operating in international markets, organized by Helvetas, in partnership with Diia.Business and the Entrepreneurship and Export Promotion Office in Kharkiv, Ukraine, in March 2026. (Nataliia Zima / Helvetas)Helvetas, in partnership with Diia.Business and the Entrepreneurship and Export Promotion Office, conducts training for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) on entering and operating in international markets in Kharkiv, Ukraine, in March 2026. (Nataliia Zima / Helvetas)“In many European countries, governments provide extensive support for exporters — from participation in exhibitions and trade missions to subsidizing the establishment of the international offices,” Mariana Kaganiak says. “In Ukraine, the resources available to businesses are much smaller, but the market requirements are the same.”This gap has created a growing need for practical support for the Ukrainian exporters. To help address it, organizations such as Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation work with the Ukrainian companies and government institutions to strengthen export capacity and provide practical support for businesses trying to enter international markets.Helping businesses navigate foreign marketsFor many entrepreneurs, the biggest barrier to exporting is not product quality but information and access to clients.“The main challenge is that companies often don’t know how to enter a foreign market or where to find partners,” says Kateryna Markevych, a Project Manager at Helvetas. “Breaking into B2B markets is especially difficult without existing contacts abroad.”To help address this problem, Helvetas partnered with Diia.Business to develop the Dashboard of Export Potential of Ukraine’s Regions. The tool analyzes demand and regulatory requirements across more than 50 countries, helping businesses identify promising markets for their products.Helvetas also contributed to the Catalogue of Export Support Tools, which gathers information on grants, training programs, financial support, and international platforms available to Ukrainian entrepreneurs.The goal is simple: to help businesses quickly and easily find the resources and information they need to grow and enter new markets.Knowledge that helps businesses growFor many entrepreneurs, knowledge and training can be just as important as financial support. The experience of one Ukrainian brand illustrates how that combination can work in practice. Zhaga is an adaptive clothing brand founded by Anastasia Klymenko, an entrepreneur who also lives with a disability. Her company creates functional clothing for people with disabilities, including those injured during the war.Anastasiia Klymenko, founder of the adaptive clothing brand Zhaga, works on functional clothing for people with disabilities and war injuries in Kyiv Oblast, Ukraine, in 2026. (Luzia Tschirky / Helvetas)Through Helvetas-implemented programs, Klymenko received both financial assistance to expand production and training opportunities focused on sustainable manufacturing. During a study visit to Stockholm, she learned how to reuse materials and reduce waste in production and began introducing environmentally responsible solutions into her business.