Financial sector news

Most CEOs note that the country's investment attractiveness is slowly but surely recovering.

This was reported by the European Business Association, which, together with NEQSOL Holding, surveyed the top management of member companies.
In 2025, the integrated investment climate index rose to 2.70 points out of a possible 5, almost returning to the level seen at the end of 2021. Businesses view European integration changes positively, but the main barriers have remained unchanged for many years.

Among the main incentives for investment, survey participants named:

• European integration and visa-free travel;
  
  
• deregulation and digitization of public services;
  
  
• preferential conditions for international trade.

At the same time, most respondents noted a number of significant barriers:

• Russian aggression and attacks on the energy system;
  
  
• corruption and weak courts;
  
  
• lack of qualified personnel;
  
  
• restrictions on currency transactions (78% of respondents gave a negative assessment).
  

The share of executives who consider the investment climate unfavorable is decreasing year by year: 71% in 2025, compared to 79% last year and 84% in 2023. Of these, only 14% assess the situation as “extremely bad.” Twenty-one percent of respondents are neutral, and 8% consider the conditions favorable.
The business community's expectations for 2026 are cautious:

• 29% predict improvement;
  
  
• 44% do not expect any changes;
  
  
• 27% expect deterioration.