Ukrainian IT exports surged by 5% despite full-scale war in 2022

Despite the economic recession caused by the war initiated by the Russian Federation, the digital technology and startup sector was the only export–oriented industry that experienced significant growth in the preceding year.

Rubryka informs about this.

Over the year, the Ukrainian economy has seen a marked decrease in Gross Domestic Product of 30%. Yet, the technology sector continues to be a major contributor to export revenues, which will be vital to the nation's recovery from the impacts of the war. In the year of Russia's full–scale aggression, the export revenues of this industry amounted to $7.34 billion, which was a 5% increase from the previous year (in comparison, the figure was $7 billion in 2021).

The growth of the Ukrainian technology sector is facilitated by regular support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Since the start of the full-scale war, the organization has allocated almost $1.2 million to more than 300 Ukrainian IT companies. This has helped them achieve sales of $12.2 million, attract new private investment of $5.9 million, and, just as importantly, keep 285,000 jobs for its employees.

"USAID's assistance was of key importance to us. When we – like everyone in Ukraine – did not know what to do next, USAID offered our team training programs and provided the necessary recommendations and contacts. They also helped us with the necessary equipment for the work of our data- center. But the main thing is that USAID helped us realize that we are not alone in the most difficult times," Pavlo Zaitsev, a representative of the Eastern Ukrainian IT cluster, which is particularly vulnerable today, said.

Thanks to USAID grants, Ukrainian IT companies moved their activities from the frontline to more secure regions inside the country. Also, they provided techno hubs with Starlink Internet terminals and database servers, which allowed them to continue their activities even during the Russian shelling of Ukraine's energy infrastructure.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has been cooperating with Ukraine since 1992, contributing to its long-term development as an independent, sovereign, democratic, and prosperous state. Since the start of the full-scale war, USAID has provided direct budget support to Ukraine totaling $22.9 billion (of which $15.5 billion has already been transferred to the Ukrainian side), humanitarian aid worth $1.4 billion, and development aid worth more than $1 billion.

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The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is an autonomous agency of the United States Federal Government tasked with the responsibility of providing non–military aid to foreign countries.