Switzerland will provide approximately $36 million (CHF 30 million) to support Ukrainian businesses and strengthen the competitiveness of Ukraine’s private sector under the five-year CORE (Competitiveness for Ukraine’s Recovery) program for 2026–2031. Most of the funding will be provided to Ukrainian businesses and organizations in the form of grants.
The program is funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). Implementation will be led by a consortium of international organizations, Helvetas and NIRAS, in cooperation with the International Labour Organization (ILO). The initiative was presented in Kyiv on November 4, according to Ukraine’s Ministry of Economy and Environment.
Grant funding will be available across four main areas. The first focuses on developing regulatory solutions and strengthening public-private dialogue. The second supports priority economic sectors and business associations. The third provides co-investment grants to modernize small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The fourth aims to improve labor policies and increase workforce productivity.
In addition to financial support, CORE will establish a Strategic Advice Window, providing Ukraine’s Ministry of Economy and Environment, business associations, and SMEs with access to international and Swiss experts.
Most grants are expected to be awarded through competitive selection processes following preliminary consultations with potential applicants. This mechanism will help direct funding toward projects aligned with the program’s objectives and the needs of Ukraine’s private sector.
CORE forms part of Switzerland’s broader CHF 5 billion support package for Ukraine through 2036. Of this amount, CHF 1.5 billion has been allocated for the 2025–2028 period. The memorandum on implementing the CORE program was signed by the parties in Davos in January 2026.
