О программе
Unite for Trade is a 12-month international business development programme for companies in Ukraine's Zhytomyr region, launched on 27 August 2025 at Polissia National University in Zhytomyr with more than 100 entrepreneurs, officials and international partners present.
The programme is developed and implemented by Visionest Institute (Estonia) in cooperation with Ukraine's Entrepreneurship and Export Promotion Office under the national Diia.Business project and the Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Estonia in Zhytomyr. It is financed by ESTDEV — the Estonian Centre for International Development. Estonia chose the Zhytomyr region for deeper cooperation in response to Ukraine's call for international partners to focus their support on specific regions.
Two complementary groups take part: export-oriented businesses with prior international experience that are ready to enter new markets, and up to 80 small and medium-sized enterprises building the capacity to become reliable suppliers and partners for larger regional companies. The goal is not export alone but integrated value chains — connecting smaller enterprises with larger businesses, and regional industries with international markets.
Participants work through educational modules on leadership, ESG, export readiness, financial planning, marketing and risk management, including the Export Academy and Business Models programmes, whose first cohorts graduated in February 2026. A three-phase mentoring track pairs SMEs, exporters and service providers with experienced mentors.
Business clubs in Zhytomyr, Berdychiv and Korosten use the mastermind and “hot seat” formats to work on real managerial challenges, while a series of company visits — among them Lehka Khoda, Rud, LESYA and Novodan — lets participants see international quality and sustainability standards in practice.
International exposure comes through the Ukraine–Estonia online business forum “Value Chains Without Borders” (25 November 2025), which introduced more than 65 Zhytomyr producers to Estonian partners, and a 2026 study visit to Tallinn for the most active participants, combining training, graduation, company visits and networking in Estonia's business and digital environment.
