Digital trade deal expected to boost business between Scotland and Ukraine

Digital trade between Scotland and Ukraine is expected to grow as a new UK-Ukraine trade deal comes into force.

The digital agreement, one of the first of its kind, begins on Sunday and the UK Government said it would enable both sides to benefit from easier trade.

Total trade in goods between Scotland and Ukraine was worth £43 million in the year to March 2024.

Of this, £31 million was goods exported from Scotland and £12 million goods imported.

UK trade policy minister Douglas Alexander said: “With the current conflict in Ukraine making physical trade more difficult, we hope that this agreement will make trading digitally much easier for Scottish and Ukrainian businesses.

“I know there is a tremendous amount of support for Ukraine and its people throughout Scotland, and this Government will do all we can to support them.”

The deal comes after negotiations following a direct request from President Zelensky’s government to deliver Ukraine’s first digitally focused trade deal.

Ukraine’s first deputy prime minister, Yuliia Svyrydenko, said: “The support of Ukraine from the United Kingdom is unprecedented. We have felt it from the very first days of the full-scale war.

“The digital trade agreement between our countries is another manifestation of solidarity and support.

“Implementing this agreement will deepen Ukraine’s participation in global supply chains, foster the development of small and medium-sized businesses, maintain free access for Ukrainian IT companies to the UK digital markets, and provide crucial support to our economy during the war and in the post-war reconstruction period.”