The International Organisation for Migration (IOM Lithuania) invites war refugees from Ukraine to apply for business grants to establish or expand their self-employment in Lithuania and to implement entrepreneurial ideas. Applications will be open from 23 October to 15 November.

"Earlier this year, we already provided funding to promote entrepreneurship and 26 people received financial support to create a job for themselves. We noticed that there is a lot of demand, as we received three times as many applications, and we have seen great results from the last call, so we decided to continue and invite Ukrainians to make their ideas a reality again," says Eitvydas Bingelis, Head of IOM Lithuania.

IOM Lithuania is going to organise three trainings (October 8, 15 and 21)  on legal aspects of establishing a business, taxes and finances, and effective advertising for the local market. To register for the training, please click here: https://forms.office.com/e/UKiCRjq4ak

Applications are open to Ukrainians who arrived in Lithuania after the outbreak of war.

"We are well aware that creating a job and starting a business is not an easy path. We want those who receive subsidies from IOM Lithuania to have enough information to be able to set up their own businesses and realise their plans. It is understandable that when you arrive in a foreign country, it is not easy to navigate the intricacies of taxes and laws, so we will provide basic information together with the Vilnius University Business School, and organise three sessions to make it easier and simpler for prospective applicants to implement their ideas", says E. Bingelis.

Currently, 45,000 Ukrainians have residence permits in Lithuania and have paid €205 million in taxes since the start of the war. According to the Ministry of Social Security and Labour, the share of taxes paid by Ukrainians is increasing. In 2022, Ukrainians paid €45 million to our country's budget, in 2023 - €95 million, and in the first 7 months of this year - €65.2 million, i.e. €13 million or 25% more than in the same period last year.