Ukraine's Ministry of Defence participated in the opening of the Kyiv Business Centre, the first dedicated British business centre in Kyiv, which will serve as a permanent platform for developing industrial cooperation between Ukrainian and British defence companies.
The centre was established with the support of the UK government as part of the implementation of the 100-Year Partnership between Ukraine and the United Kingdom.
The initiative resulted from cooperation between the UK's National Armaments Director Group, industrial partners and the financial sector.
Mission of the Kyiv Business Centre
The Kyiv Business Centre aims to make it easier for British companies to enter the Ukrainian market, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises that have previously faced security restrictions, high costs and administrative barriers to maintaining a permanent presence in Ukraine.
The centre will enable British companies to engage directly with Ukrainian government institutions, defence manufacturers, the innovation sector and investors. They will be able to obtain information about Ukraine's current needs, identify potential partners and develop joint projects.
"For Ukraine, it is important that international partnerships move beyond individual agreements towards systematic industrial cooperation. The Kyiv Business Centre provides permanent infrastructure for this directly in Ukraine — a place where British companies can find Ukrainian partners more quickly, better understand the real needs of the defence industry and launch new projects together with us," said Hanna Hvozdiar, Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine.
According to Hvozdiar, this cooperation will create additional opportunities for joint development, manufacturing and investment in Ukraine's defence industry.
Key areas of activity
The Kyiv Business Centre will focus on three main areas: industry, innovation and investment.
It will facilitate business connections, attract financing, support joint development and production of defence equipment, and help expand manufacturing capacity.
The centre will also serve Ukrainian companies seeking British industrial partners or planning to establish subsidiaries in the United Kingdom.
"The UK has stood firmly with Ukraine since the first days of Russia's illegal invasion. With the opening of the Kyiv Business Centre, we are helping to create new opportunities for investment, growth and long-term recovery," said Luke Pollard, the UK's Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry.
Pollard emphasised that deepening the 100-Year Partnership between Ukraine and the United Kingdom is turning shared determination into joint innovation.
Strengthening Ukrainian-British defence cooperation
The UK's National Armaments Director, Rupert Pearce, met with representatives of the defence industry and small and medium-sized enterprises to discuss the launch of the centre and the development of ties between Ukrainian and British manufacturers.
"This is more than just a centre. It is a permanent platform that opens up opportunities for the UK to engage in meaningful cooperation with Ukrainian partners, both today and in the long term. Previously, costs, security restrictions and other challenges caused by Russia's full-scale invasion made it difficult for companies, particularly smaller businesses, to operate in Ukraine. This centre helps overcome those barriers and creates real opportunities for innovation, investment and exports," Pearce said.
The opening of the Kyiv Business Centre builds on existing Ukrainian-British industrial cooperation, which has already resulted in more than 40 major partnerships between companies from the two countries.
The initiative also draws on the results of previous trade missions to Ukraine organised by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The centre is operated by British company Audere Group in a consortium with AMS Global Solutions and Hillmont Partners.
It is already developing a network involving international companies, Ukrainian government institutions, defence manufacturers and investors.
Further information about cooperation opportunities is available on the Kyiv Business Centre's official website.
