Ukrainian government unveils cashback scheme: 10% rebate on domestic goods
Source: Ukraine’s ministry of social policies
In a bid to stimulate homegrown businesses, Ukraine’s government said on Tuesday it will roll out the “National Cashback” scheme on September 2, 2024. It will reward Ukrainian consumers with a 10% rebate on purchases of domestically produced goods.
Under this program, consumers will be offered cashback on a range of products and services, including medical and utility services, sports activities, cinema tickets, donations to the Ukrainian Army, and military bonds. The rebate is capped at 3,000 hryvnias per month.
Yulia Svyrydenko, Ukraine’s economy minister, spoke about the program’s economic benefits, arguing, “cashback as a form of state support is more effective for the economy than mere financial handouts. It generates additional demand for Ukrainian goods, which in turn creates jobs and ensures tax revenue. Up to 40% of the money spent on Ukrainian goods returns to the budget through taxes and supports the Ukrainian army.”
The cashback program, though, will not apply to excise goods, and will be voluntary for consumers, manufacturers, and retailers. Details on what products are eligable for cashback will be available at participating stores or on the program’s website.
Cashback funds will be credited to the card by the 20th of the following month, with cash withdrawals not permitted. Funds accamulated in 2024 must be used by January 31, 2025, while the overall program will run until December 31, 2025.
Ukrainian MP Olexiy Honcharenko revealed that the goverment will earmark 3 billion hryvnias for the program in 2024 and 6 billion hryvnais in 2025.
Amendments to Ukraine’s enforcement proceedings legislation, initiated by the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, have entered into force. Among other measures, the reform provides for the automated lifting of attachments on bank accounts immediately after debts in enforcement proceedings have been fully settled. The main practical benefit for citizens is the complete elimination of the need to contact an enforcement officer in person and wait for paper decisions once the debt has been paid.
The 157th Separate Mechanized Brigade has received another batch of supplies as part of Rinat Akhmetov’s Steel Front military initiative. This time, the military received seven quad bikes and four mobile shower and bath units.
In my previous column, I wrote about social innovations in Ukraine. Those innovations are part of civic resilience and the democratization of security, which Europe is paying close attention to right now. The EU is trying to work out how to spread responsibility for its own security across society as a whole, rather than leaving it to institutions alone. It is looking for concrete ways to bring ordinary people into the work of defense and resistance.
Petro Poroshenko’s lawyers have appealed to the High Anti-Corruption Court demanding that NABU be obligated to register proceedings regarding the fact of exerting influence on the court and to recognize Petro Poroshenko as a victim in the case of the Deputy Head of the Office of the President, Iryna Mudra, due to her pressure on Supreme Court judges who were considering a lawsuit to overturn sanctions.
Internationally recognized brands and financial institutions should direct capital to Ukraine now, not waiting for the hostilities to end. This was emphasized by Rinat Akhmetov, president of FC Shakhtar, during a working visit to UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, where he met with UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin.