Creating jobs for war veterans and supporting the development of business founded by veterans is one of the government's priorities, as stated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during his participation in the opening of the III International Volunteer and Veterans Forum " Ukraine is Where We Are".
"A separate important topic and our priority is the creation of jobs for veterans. I think we need as many veterans’ businesses as possible," the President said.
The President stressed that veterans were the first people to defend the country, people of word and deed. They are stress-resistant, disciplined, have leadership qualities, they are able to make the right, bold and quick decisions, think systematically and strategically.
"It's both military skills and the rules by which all successful companies exist. And, of course, one cannot ignore the experience of other countries, where many veterans are the founders of large, serious, powerful, well-known companies," Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted.
According to the Head of State, the assistance may consist in developing a business education program for those who are really interested in it, providing financial support for starting a business, soft loans.
"Currently, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has a draft law on state guarantees for loans to small and medium-sized businesses. I think we should think about considering veteran business as a separate category of business," he said.
According to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, such an initiative is appropriate, because Ukraine is moving towards peace, and there have been no combat losses for 28 days.
"We need peace only on the terms of Ukraine. We all understand that when it comes, it does not mean that we will no longer need a strong and capable army. Quite the opposite. Only a modern and powerful army will be our guarantor of peace. And a powerful army can only be possible in a successful country with a successful business," the President said.
The Head of State noted that veterans are people who move the country forward and can be real locomotives and drivers of successful change in Ukraine.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on the representatives of the business school present at the forum to offer targeted business training programs adapted for veterans. He also urged entrepreneurs to become mentors and share their experience with them.
Minister for Veterans Affairs of Ukraine Serhiy Bessarab noted the importance of organizing such forums and discussing the development of veterans' business. In particular, he announced the discussion of a wide range of issues: from targeted support of education for the development of business to the creation of specialized associations of veterans - entrepreneurs.
"The purpose of this format of open communication is to give every veteran an opportunity to ask questions and hear qualified answers. This is not just an exchange of experience; this is the foundation for building a vector of public policy to support veterans' business. Thousands of ex-servicemen and volunteers are in the process of returning to civilian professions and are trying to organize their business," he said.
The President once again congratulated the attendees and all Ukrainians on the Day of the National Flag of Ukraine.
"You, like no one else, really know the price one has to pay every day for our flag to fly in the sky. You fought and defended this flag, hoisted it over the liberated Ukrainian cities. Together with millions of Ukrainians today, I want to thank each of you for this - for what you have done for Ukraine, for what you do for our country every day," the President summed up.
