Not all EBA members expect business growth in 2025 - study.

Most members of the European Business Association (EBA) expect positive business development dynamics in 2025, according to a survey. Such optimists constitute 53%, while negatively inclined - 14%. Compared to last year, when there were 58% optimists, expectations for business growth have slightly decreased.

The survey was conducted by EBA Executive Director Anna Derevyanko at an association event titled "Global Forecast. Strengthening Unity".

Derevyanko noted that despite the uncertainty of the situation, most businesses still expect growth, and this adds optimism. 72% of surveyed businessmen plan to increase hryvnia revenue in 2025, while only 15% expect a decrease. Because of this, 35% of directors forecast growth up to 10%, while 23% expect growth from 11 to 20%.

According to Derevyanko, 46% of respondents plan to increase production in physical terms, while 21% plan to decrease it. Regarding dollar revenue, 43% expect its growth, and 27% forecast a decrease. Survey participants expect the average hryvnia to dollar exchange rate in 2025 to be 44 UAH/USD.

Derevyanko reminded that for the current year business expected an exchange rate of 43 UAH/USD, for the previous year - 41 UAH/USD, while the government planned a rate of 45 UAH/USD.

The Executive Director of EBA noted that the share of companies planning to invest in large-scale projects decreased to 16% from 26% in 2024 and 19% in 2023. However, the value of planned projects increased to $9 million, compared to $8 million in 2024 and $3 million in 2023.

The number of companies planning to invest in social initiatives also decreased from 65% in 2024 to 59% in 2025. On average, businesses plan to spend 6% of their income on such projects, which is less than this year's figure and 8% in 2023.

According to Derevyanko, businesses consider the fight against corruption, judicial reform, and the establishment of the rule of law and ensuring macroeconomic stability as the main tasks of the government. However, the EBA Executive Director added that the reform of tax and customs policies became another priority, with its importance being 35%.

Derevyanko believes that the "freezing" of investment plans is a worrying signal, and to unfreeze them, real progress in the fight against corruption, changes in the judicial system, and law enforcement must be made.

Source: Interfax-Ukraine