1. It is extremely important for Ukrainian businesses to study international market trends in order to remain competitive in the context of globalization. Therefore, the Office for Entrepreneurship and Export Development, as part of the national project “Diia.Business,” in collaboration with the company “Pro-Consulting,” is launching a series of free webinars on “Trends in External Markets.”
2. The leaders of the governments of Ukraine and Canada, Denis Shmyhal and Justin Trudeau, have announced the conclusion of negotiations for a renewed Free Trade Agreement between the two countries. A very important element of the agreement will be that it will allow both sides to do everything that is not prohibited.
3. Banks in Ukraine are curtailing lending to individuals and businesses and are switching to NBU deposit certificates. The reduction in bank lending is explained by both the war and the high risks of loan defaults. The share of problem loans has increased to almost 40 percent.
4. A bill has been registered in the Verkhovna Rada that allows doing business in Ukraine without registering as an individual entrepreneur. Among the types of entrepreneurial (economic) activity that can be carried out without registering as an individual entrepreneur is furniture repair at home.
5. Starting in April, entrepreneurs and individuals engaged in independent professional activities are obliged to inform banks, other financial institutions, non-bank payment service providers, and electronic money issuers, where such individuals open accounts/e-wallets about their status. Otherwise, they will be fined 680 hryvnias for each instance of non-disclosure.
6. International retailers (including furniture stores), in their fight for customers, increasingly have to change their formats, giving preference to bright and original designs that create positive emotions. Ukraine demonstrated even more progressive approaches to designing and decorating commercial spaces before the big war than the European Union. Now this trend is intensifying due to the exacerbation of competition.
7. The Norwegian Council for Refugees has launched a support program for Ukrainian business owners. Entrepreneurs who have moved to Lviv or Ternopil regions due to the war can apply for a grant. The application for the Norway grant must be submitted by April 20 using the link.
8. Digitalization has become a defining theme for the development of the woodworking industry in recent years. That’s why the May exhibition of woodworking equipment and tools “LIGNA 2023” is focused on this topic, “Woodworking Transformation,” which outlines viable scenarios for the current and future directions of digitalization in the woodworking and furniture industries, as well as solutions for trading woodworking products.
9. The Japanese studio “Nendo” has designed a storage space for furniture, art objects, and artworks with an attached guest house on the outskirts of Myota, Nagano Prefecture. The main material used in the implementation of the architectural idea is modular reinforced concrete pipes.
10. Lakes is a nature-inspired collection of sculptural mirrors developed by French designers Marina Dag and Nathan Baranes. The designers focused on the contrast between the smooth glass forms and the straight lines of the mirror supports, made from wood, brass, oxidized copper, marble, onyx, and other attractive materials.