On March 4, 2025, Ambassador of Ukraine Maksym Kononenko took part in the international networking event "How governments, business clubs, and chambers help a business be more successful internationally?" organized by Impact Builders. The event brought together representatives of diplomatic missions, business associations, and entrepreneurs interested in international development.

Among the key speakers were the Ambassador of Ukraine to Estonia Maksym Kononenko, the founder of Impact Builders and event organizer Jan Lagast, and business expert Alistair Starling.

In his speech, Ambassador M.Kononenko emphasized that, despite the ongoing war, the Ukrainian economy demonstrates resilience and adaptability. He noted that Ukraine’s real GDP growth in 2024 was 3.5%, with a forecasted growth of 2.9% in 2025. The main drivers of this growth include the development of manufacturing (defense sector), trade (agro-industrial sector), as well as logistics and digital services.

Ambassador M.Kononenko highlighted the reforms introduced by the Government of Ukraine aimed at improving the investment climate. These include simplifying regulatory procedures for businesses and international investors, creating tax incentives for strategic industries, modernizing infrastructure and the energy sector, expanding cooperation with the EU through the Automated Trading Mechanism (ATM), implementing the "Investment Nannies" initiative to attract large investors, and developing "Industrial Parks."

Ambassador M.Kononenko called on business representatives to enter the Ukrainian market now to participate in defense projects and reconstruction and recovery efforts in Ukraine.

Additionally, he elaborated on the role of the Embassy in facilitating international cooperation. The Embassy of Ukraine in Estonia actively supports Ukrainian exporters, organizes their participation in international exhibitions, and provides consultations on doing business in Europe.

Jan Lagast, the founder of Impact Builders, known for his extensive experience in combining technology with marketing and sales, shared insights on entering the Estonian market and practical strategies for implementing customer-oriented approaches to help businesses expand internationally.

Business expert Alistair Starling emphasized the importance of adapting business models to the specifics of different markets and highlighted the role of innovation in ensuring companies' global competitiveness. He stressed the need for businesses and the academic community, alongside governments, to be actively involved in the legislative process.

The key takeaway from the event was the necessity of close cooperation between governments, businesses, and the scientific community as a unified force in creating favorable economic development conditions. Participants emphasized that only through effective interaction among these three components can long-term growth, innovation, and investment attraction be ensured.