This is mentioned in a report on the website of the National SME Platform.
It is noted that the Ministry of Economy recently published data regarding the impact of the "National Cashback" Program on the country's economy. According to calculations, the implementation of the project ensured a GDP growth of 0.001% in 2024, which is essentially within the margin of statistical error. At the same time, the Program significantly distorts competition, providing advantages to retail chains while excluding small and micro enterprises.
Based on the practical experience of entrepreneurs applying the Program in 2024, it has the following key drawbacks that prevent it from fully realizing its potential:
- High regulation and relative complexity of procedures, particularly the varied and numerous requirements for producers, products, sellers, consumers, and the directions for cashback spending.
This necessitates a high level of preparation for all elements/stages of the program's implementation and significant communication with citizens. As a result, nearly 700,000 citizens did not receive payments because they failed to activate their cards for cashback payments in the Diia app on time.
- The program does not cover "non-digital" citizens of Ukraine (not everyone has the necessary devices or wishes to install Diia/can work with it).
- All entities engaged in entrepreneurial activities that operate under a simplified taxation and reporting system are excluded from the Program as sellers (the relevant changes to subparagraph 3 of paragraph 11 of the basic Resolution No. 952 were made by the Government's decision on November 22, 2024, No. 1330). This means that the program does not extend to food markets or holiday fairs.
In most cases, the program operates through large and medium-sized retail chains, distorting competition conditions in the retail market where such chains already possess prevailing market power.