The three associations jointly developed a step-by-step instruction for small and medium-sized businesses to participate in bidding abroad. The instruction was developed as part of a grant project from the Government of Switzerland, which is implemented by three associations.

The Ukrainian Association of Furniture Manufacturers together with the Ukrainian Association of the Visual Industry and the Donetsk Chamber of Commerce and Industry have developed step-by-step instructions for small and medium-sized businesses that will help small companies to prepare for participation in bidding abroad. This was announced during a press conference in UNIAN by the chairman of the expert platform of the Ukrainian Association of Furniture Manufacturers Dmitry Patis, who presented a report on a grant project from the Swiss government “Increasing cooperation and trust with joint participation in international and national public procurement”, which is implemented by three associations. “For the furniture industry, it is very important to reorient the market. For many years we have been focused on Russia and Kazakhstan, which are currently unavailable, and it is very important for us now to bring companies to other markets, ”he said. According to Patis, in order to do this, companies must be able to prepare to participate in tenders in foreign markets and know the rules by which they will play. “Our companies often receive offers to participate in tenders, but how to work with them and even where to start – no one has an idea,” he stressed.

Anna Sevostyanova, an expert of the tender project for tender purchases, noted that a methodological manual was developed to help small and medium-sized businesses, which contained step-by-step instructions on what to do when conducting procurement. “In Ukraine there is very little experience of participation of small and medium-sized businesses in international tenders, and the instruction will help increase the competitiveness of domestic products in international markets,” she explained.

In turn, a lawyer, an expert of the grant project, Yulia Strikovskaya, noted that there are many representatives of small and medium-sized businesses who could participate in international tenders, but they need to unite to win the tender. “When developing the instructions, the task was to propose models that helped small and medium-sized businesses unite, and for this we analyzed the EU and Ukraine legislation, which we had never done before,” she said.

As explained by the expert of the grant project for tender purchases Taras Shimko, in the methodological manual, compiled on the basis of analysis of data from open sources of the European Union, shows how much market volume is open today for companies not only in the furniture industry, but in principle for the economy of Ukraine. “This tool opens up great prospects and opportunities for that part of the Ukrainian business, which is engaged in the production, processing and production of finished products with high added value,” he stressed. According to Shimko, an analysis of the data showed that there are many opportunities in foreign markets, the only thing that is holding back Ukrainian companies is a lack of understanding of the procedures for participation in tenders, as well as their own competitive opportunities.

Speaking about the project, Patis noted that the presented results are the outcome of the first trimester within the framework of the grant program per year and serve as the basis for the development of practical results from market participants. The representative of the Swiss Embassy in Ukraine, Viktor Shutkevich, noted that they were inspired by the fact that, in both Switzerland and Ukraine, the forest plays an important role, it creates additional value and jobs.

Invited to participate in the press conference: Dmitry Patis, Chairman of the Export Platform of the Association “UAFM”; Yulia Strikovska, lawyer, expert of the grant project; Anna Sevostyanova, expert of the tender project for tender purchases; Taras Shimko, expert of the tender project for tender purchases; Andrei Annopolsky, curator of the grant project from the Association “AVI”; Victor Shutkevich, Deputy Director / Project Coordinator of the Swiss Cooperation Office in Ukraine. Help UNIAN.

The project “Increasing the level of cooperation and trust with joint participation in international and national public procurement” was launched on November 1, 2018 and is designed for 1 year. Grants in the amount of 1 million 242 thousand UAH were allocated by the Government of Switzerland. The goal of the program is to create an organizational and legal model for the participation of small and medium-sized businesses in international and national government procurement, as well as improving the performance of small and medium-sized business associations. One of the conditions for the grant was the creation of a consortium, which is why the program brings together three companies.

Read more on UNIAN: https://press.unian.ua/…/10459614-tri-asociaciji-spilno-roz…