He notes that after the onset of the full-scale invasion, many businesses were forced to shut down, especially in areas of active combat. However, companies that managed to adapt have become more flexible and capable of responding quickly to challenges.
"The Ukrainian economy has demonstrated remarkable resilience, particularly because some sectors were able to quickly pivot. The metallurgy industry suffered significant losses due to hostilities in eastern Ukraine and the destruction of major metallurgical plants. At the same time, there was an increase in activity in the production of metal structures for the defense and construction sectors," Anzin points out.
Nevertheless, the primary focus now is on managing human capital, as many skilled workers have been mobilized or forced to relocate, leading companies to face acute labor shortages, he emphasized.
"To address this issue, companies with the necessary resources have implemented internal training programs. Those most actively engaged in employee training are companies servicing the state defense order – from light industry to drone and weapon manufacturing. However, in the context of mobilization, businesses need to concentrate their efforts on creating job opportunities that can be taken up by women demobilized from defense forces, as well as specialists nearing retirement age," the entrepreneur noted.
The author also discusses how businesses are adapting to new conditions through innovation, particularly in the IT and digitalization sectors. According to Anzin, rapid digitalization of processes has become a necessity for survival rather than a competitive advantage.
"The swift digitalization of processes has enabled companies to reduce costs and improve resource management efficiency. While active digitalization used to be a competitive edge in a relatively calm market, it is now a prerequisite for survival, especially for businesses targeting mass consumers," he writes.
He also touched on the interaction between business and government in wartime, emphasizing that businesses are actively supporting the army and volunteer initiatives.
"Instead, Ukrainian businesses need stability and predictability in their interactions with the government. In wartime conditions, entrepreneurs understand that state policy must adapt to new realities; however, these changes must be gradual and justified," the entrepreneur writes.
He stressed the importance of partnership between the government and entrepreneurs, especially for the rapid economic renewal of the country. According to Anzin, the state should become a partner to businesses and ensure transparent rules of engagement.
"The government should focus on partnering with businesses. This partnership was insufficient in previous periods, but it has become a critical necessity during the war and will remain so after it ends," the author emphasized.
The war has served as an important lesson for Ukrainian entrepreneurs, helping them understand new challenges and opportunities, and the knowledge and experience gained will aid Ukrainian businesses in quickly restoring the economy and strengthening the country's economic positions in Europe after the conflict, Anzin is convinced.