How Unite for Trade Helped LOREN Group Accelerate Its Growth in Both Domestic and Foreign Markets

Forced to relocate from Mariupol to Zhytomyr in 2022 following Russia's full-scale invasion, LOREN Group has been rebuilding its business and looking for new opportunities to grow. Participation in Unite for Trade, implemented by Visionest Institute, helped the company strengthen its management processes, establish international contacts and take concrete steps towards entering export markets.

For LOREN Group, the journey towards international markets is part of a much bigger story of resilience and adaptation.

When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the company had to relocate its business from Mariupol to Zhytomyr. Starting over in a new city meant facing significant challenges, rebuilding operations and adapting to a completely different business environment.

Yet relocation did not mean giving up on growth. LOREN Group continued developing its manufacturing capabilities, exploring new opportunities and looking for ways to strengthen its position in the market.

For Valeriia Digol, the company's owner, exporting had long been something to consider in the future — perhaps in two, three or even four years. However, the right connections, practical knowledge and an opportunity to engage with international partners changed that perspective much sooner than expected.

Today, LOREN Group is already in discussions with an Estonian company, has signed a non-disclosure agreement (NDA), and is exploring opportunities for cooperation. For Valeriia, this is one of the most significant outcomes of participating in Unite for Trade, a business development programme implemented by Visionest Institute for Zhytomyr businesses.

On photo: Valeriia Digol, owner of LOREN Group, presenting results of the Unite for Trade program during the final event of the program in Zhytomyr (Ukraine)

Turning international ambitions into real connections

One of the programme's most valuable components was the opportunity to meet Estonian companies and explore potential areas of cooperation directly.

During the Unite for Trade programme, two online Ukrainian-Estonian business forums were organised to create opportunities for Ukrainian businesses to connect with Estonian companies, discuss potential areas of cooperation and identify new business partners. The forums featured sector-specific breakout rooms, allowing participants to present their capabilities, exchange ideas and explore potential synergies with companies from relevant industries.

The first forum, held on 25 November 2025, brought LOREN Group its first tangible results and became the starting point of a promising international partnership. It was there that the company connected with an Estonian business interested in its manufacturing capabilities. What began as an introduction has since developed into active discussions.

"We are already communicating with an Estonian company that is interested in us. We met at the forum, signed an NDA, and are now moving forward. This happened thanks to the programme," Valeriia recalls.

The discussions have already progressed beyond an initial introduction. The companies are currently examining technical requirements and possible approaches to cooperation, particularly regarding raw materials.

One of the issues under consideration is the availability of 9KhS steel, a grade currently used by the Estonian partner. With its existing stock limited, the companies are exploring alternative steel grades, including S233 and other suitable materials.

LOREN Group has already calculated production costs using different types of steel as the primary raw material. This analysis will help both sides assess the most suitable options for future cooperation and supply.

For a Ukrainian manufacturer operating in an uncertain business environment, this cooperation also represents an opportunity to diversify its supply options and strengthen the resilience of its production processes.

Building a business ready for international markets

International partnerships require more than a good product. They demand clear business processes, effective management, an understanding of risks and the ability to meet the expectations of international customers.

This was another important area of development for LOREN Group during the programme.

With the support of Visionest Institute, the company focused on improving management practices, increasing operational transparency and introducing a more systematic approach to business development.

The changes included stronger control over key business processes, from resource management and production costs to occupational safety, revenue tracking and employee communication.

The company also began establishing a systematic approach to collecting environmental and social data. Tracking electricity, fuel, water consumption, waste and other resources is helping LOREN Group build a foundation for future ESG reporting and better understand its environmental and social performance.

Management processes have become more structured, with greater attention to planning, operational efficiency and production risks. At the same time, the company has been working to improve working conditions, internal communication and employee engagement.

The overall objective is to develop a more transparent, manageable and resilient business model — one better prepared to meet the requirements of international customers and partners.

As Valeriia explains, the programme helped her realise that these changes should not be postponed until a distant deadline.

"It encouraged me not to wait, but to act here and now."

Practical tools that changed the way the company approaches exports

For Valeriia, the value of Unite for Trade was not limited to new contacts. The programme provided a set of practical tools that helped her approach international development more systematically.

Among the most useful were export strategy development, SMART goals, risk assessment, international product classification codes and tools for identifying relevant export opportunities.

Previously, Valeriia had been more cautious about entering international markets. Analysing potential risks and identifying the company's weaknesses helped her better understand what needed to be strengthened before taking the next steps.

Another important outcome was personal development. Communicating with international partners in English has encouraged Valeriia to improve her language skills and become more confident in international business conversations.

"The programme broadened my outlook and my understanding of export opportunities. It accelerated the steps I was already taking," she says.

New partnerships and opportunities beyond the programme

Strengthening connections between businesses in the Zhytomyr region is one of the core objectives of Unite for Trade. The programme is designed not only to provide companies with knowledge and tools for growth but also to bring local businesses closer together, encourage collaboration and create new opportunities through partnerships.

For LOREN Group, this objective has translated into a concrete business result.

The company has signed a contract with another Unite for Trade participant — a textile manufacturer — and has already supplied several components, including packaging parts and knives. The cooperation is now expanding: the partner company has expressed interest in a complete unit, essentially a small machine designed for a specific packaging operation.

To explore this opportunity, LOREN Group has also identified an electronics specialist who can develop the necessary circuitry.

Beyond this particular partnership, LOREN Group maintains contact with other businesses it met through Unite for Trade and sees further opportunities for cooperation within the regional business community.

This is exactly the kind of outcome the programme aims to achieve: turning connections between Zhytomyr region companies into practical business cooperation, new orders and shared development opportunities.

The experience of LOREN Group demonstrates how a stronger local business network can complement internationalisation efforts, opening new possibilities for product development and growth.

An unexpected victory — and a new perspective on the future

Throughout the Unite for Trade programme, gamification was used to encourage active participation, maintain engagement and motivate companies to make the most of the learning and networking opportunities.

A points-based system allowed participants to earn points for their activity and involvement in programme activities. At the end of the programme, all accumulated points were counted, and the three highest-scoring companies received an additional opportunity: individual mentorship tailored to their business needs.

LOREN Group was among the three winners, earning an extra hour of individual mentoring — an unexpected but very welcome achievement for Valeriia.

For her, this recognition was particularly valuable because it came alongside practical advice, useful business contacts and a clearer understanding of the company's next steps.

The mentoring and programme activities helped identify additional opportunities, including potential cooperation on raw material supplies, which could provide an additional layer of security in case metal supply in Ukraine becomes more limited. The company also gained insights into financial instruments that could help protect its export orders.

Growth begins when businesses are ready to act

For LOREN Group, Unite for Trade was not simply a training programme. It was an opportunity to reconsider the company's development priorities, strengthen internal processes, establish new business relationships and take practical steps towards international markets.

What once seemed like a plan for the next several years has become an active process of communication, technical discussions and partnership development.

And perhaps this is the most important result: the company is no longer just considering export opportunities — it is actively working to make them happen.

The Unite for Trade program is developed and implemented by Visionest Institute in Ukraine (Estonia) in cooperation with the Entrepreneurship and Export Promotion Office under the national Diia.Business project, and the Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Estonia in Zhytomyr. The program is financed by ESTDEV — the Estonian Centre for International Development.