The Diia.Business center is open again in Bucha after the occupation and reconstruction

On September 29, 2022, the Diia.Business center in Bucha resumed its work. At the beginning of the full-scale invasion, it was under occupation. The opening is a powerful signal not only for Ukraine, but also for the whole world — Ukrainians are actively restoring the ecosystem of cities affected by the occupation even during the war.

The Diia.Business center in Bucha was reopened on the initiative of the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine with the support of Visa and Caparol Ukraine.

Center was officially opened in December 2021. Entrepreneurs could receive free consultations, study and look for investors and partners.

Before the start of the full-scale war, almost a thousand visitors visited the Diia.Business center in Bucha.The center received more than 665 requests, conducted 435 tours and more than 50 initial consultations with created road maps for entrepreneurs. Also organized 31 events in tax, financial, marketing and business areas.

After the full-sclar Russian invasion, the Diia.Business center, as the entire Continent residential quarter where the center was located, was under occupation and got damaged. Therefore, in the first months of the war, the Diia.Business center in Bucha worked only in an online format. Today, despite all the troubles, it resumes his work.

"Ukrainian business continues to work even during the invasion, just as our economy does. For our part, we have to create all the conditions for Ukrainian entrepreneurs to develop and scale. A few months ago, the Diia.Business center was under occupation. Today, it works again for Ukrainian entrepreneurs. We are quickly restoring the damaged, rebuilding the destroyed in order to continue to work, create new and develop Ukrainian," said Vice Prime Minister – Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov.

In addition to the resumption of work, the center expanded its activities: support for local entrepreneurs, consultations on local business development, relocation of enterprises from the eastern regions, psychological support for residents, educational courses for teenagers.

According to the Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation for European Integration Valeria Ionan, the launch of the center is a big step: "The restored Diia.Business center in Bucha is an indicator that business in Ukraine continues to work and revive. We initiated work on its restoration back in April, in the first days after the deoccupation. Today, the center has become a support hub for relocated enterprises from the country's hottest spots."

Svitlana Chirva, Vice president, Regional manager of Visa in Ukraine and Moldova, told about the strategic partnership with the Diia.Business center in Bucha: "Visa has been a strategic partner of the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine for three years now. Starting with the opening of the first center in Kharkiv, our company supports the development of the Diia.Business network in various regions of Ukraine. The opening of the restored center in Bucha today is particularly symbolic. It shows the indomitability and courage of our people. Our entrepreneurs and state institutions. The immutability of our plans for the development of a successful modern economy of Ukraine. Visa systematically promotes the development of small and medium-sized businesses, focusing on their digitization and access to non-cash payments, development of export potential, as well as support of women's entrepreneurship. I sincerely believe that Diia.Business in Bucha will become a point of attraction, restoration and growth of local communities and entrepreneurs."

As noted by Andriy Korol, commercial director of Caparol Ukraine, one of the partners of Diia.Business in Bucha: "The challenges faced by Ukraine, our society and the business community because of military aggression, require decisive, quick and joint actions. As a member of the UN General Assembly in Ukraine, Caparol Ukraine has always supported the development of significant projects. That is why in 2021 we participated in the opening of the Diia.Business center in Bucha, which helps entrepreneurs and promotes the development of entrepreneurial spirit among young people. Since the beginning of the war, the premises of the center have been damaged, and our company could not stay away from these problems and joined in the restoration. We are sure that every business, taking steps to support affected communities, contributes to our common victory."

Anna Strakhovska, head of the Diia.Business center in Bucha, is confident that the center's activities will have a significant impact on the development of SMEs: "After the occupation of our city, the vector of the center's work also changed. Today, it is assistance in the recovery of local macro, small and medium-sized businesses and consulting on entering new markets. We pay special attention to the relocation of enterprises from hot spots. As well as education and support of local residents. It's nice to know that Bucha is already recovering after everything he went through."

The Diia.Business center in Bucha is located at Oleksa Tyhogo 4, office 230. It is open on weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.