What changes are most expected by entrepreneurs to improve the business climate?

Among the surveyed Ukrainian enterprises, 20.7% believe that to improve the business climate in Ukraine, it is necessary to lift the blockade of the western borders. The business community considers this issue more significant than corruption and commercial war risk insurance (17% of respondents each), reservation of employees from mobilization (15%), or solving issues with blocked of tax invoices (6%).

However, the positive expectations for open borders is less significant than anticipation of the end of the war (87%), tax reduction (44%), simplification of legal requirements for businesses (32%), de-occupation of Ukrainian territories (30%), and affordable lending (25%).

At the same time, the percentage of enterprises reporting a reduction in exports increased from 20% in December to 34% in January. The share of companies reporting an increase in exports decreased from 31% in December to 19% in January.

Overall, long-term business expectations are improving, and uncertainty is easing, but the recovery in business activity has stagnated amid concerns about security, labor shortages, and demand issues among companies.