ASPECTS OF REGIONAL POLICY PLANNING TO STRENGTHEN ECONOMIC MOBILITY OF SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES IN UKRAINE

Abstract

The article substantiates the theoretical and applied aspects of planning regional policy aimed at strengthening the economic mobility of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Ukraine under wartime challenges and post-war recovery conditions. Economic mobility of SMEs is defined as their ability to create, adapt, develop, and scale activities in a volatile and risk-intensive environment, ensuring resilience, competitiveness, and economic security at the regional level. The study argues for the application of a program-target approach based on a clear hierarchy of strategic goals, operational objectives, tasks, and measures with defined timelines and responsible actors.

The paper identifies priority directions of regional policy, including the determination of strategic types of economic activity in line with regional development strategies, stimulation of new business creation among youth, veterans, internally displaced persons, and other vulnerable groups, as well as support for the development and scaling up of operating enterprises. Particular attention is paid to improving monitoring systems by shifting the focus from formal quantitative indicators to performance-based and innovation-oriented metrics, including dynamic indicators of sales and the share of innovative products. The feasibility of implementing SME self-assessment tools and the SME Test to evaluate the impact of regional decisions on business activity is substantiated.

The importance of evaluating the effectiveness of grant support programs and enhancing transparency through analytical dashboards is emphasized. Implementation of the proposed approaches will contribute to strengthening adaptive capacity of SMEs, increasing regional competitiveness, and forming the foundations for sustainable socio-economic development of Ukraine.