THE ROLE OF INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT PROGRAMS IN PROMOTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF VETERAN ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN UKRAINE

Abstract

The article explores the legal and organizational foundations of integrating international investment programs into the system of support for veteran entrepreneurship in Ukraine. It is substantiated that the development of entrepreneurial activity among individuals who have participated in the defense of the state constitutes not only a tool for economic self-realization but also an integral part of public policy for the social adaptation and reintegration of veterans into civilian life. The study examines the main forms of foreign financial involvement in the sphere of veteran initiatives, in particular the mechanisms of grant assistance, concessional lending, guarantee instruments, and technical support implemented with the participation of international financial organizations and donor funds. The procedures for the participation of veteran business entities in the respective programs are detailed, and the legal aspects of cooperation with international donors within the framework of the current Ukrainian legal system are analyzed. The core focus of the research is the institutional arrangement of the investment process into veteran entrepreneurship. It has been found that the national legal system currently does not provide a specialized regulatory regime for business entities founded by veterans, which creates obstacles to their participation in international projects. Particular attention is given to the need to formalize the status of such entities for the purposes of legal protection and fiscal incentives. The article analyzes legal and administrative barriers that complicate the implementation of international investment programs in Ukraine. It highlights the problems of inconsistency between investment legislation, the regulatory framework in the field of veterans’ social protection, and the regulation of entrepreneurial activity. The importance of cross-sectoral legal harmonization is emphasized, taking into account standards of transparency, accountability, and effectiveness. Within the framework of the study, the necessity of establishing a specialized state mechanism for the coordination of international investments in the field of veteran business has been substantiated. The creation of a national agency or coordination center is argued as expedient, which would perform the functions of regulatory support, expert analysis, project certification, and communication between Ukrainian recipients and international entities. Based on the conducted analysis, a number of recommendations have been formulated aimed at improving the legal environment for supporting veteran initiatives through systematic regulatory arrangements for their participation in international investment programs. The conclusion is drawn regarding the necessity of integrating veteran-related issues into long-term state strategies for the development of small and medium-sized enterprises as one of the factors of social resilience and national recovery. The subject of the article is the legal and organizational-institutional aspects of engaging international investment programs in the process of support, development, and institutionalization of veteran entrepreneurship in Ukraine, as well as the regulatory provision of interaction between state authorities, veteran business entities, and international financial structures in the context of post-war recovery. Research methods. Within the research entitled: "The Role of International Investment Programs in Forming the Legal and Institutional Foundations for Supporting Veteran Entrepreneurship in Ukraine", a comprehensive set of legal science methods was applied, ensuring the thoroughness and depth of the analysis of the chosen issue. In particular, the formal-legal method was used to analyze regulatory acts governing investment activity and the legal status of veterans; the comparative-legal method was applied to identify the features of legal regulation of investment support for entrepreneurship in the context of cooperation with international donors; the systemic-structural method was used to study the interaction between legal, institutional, and financial elements. In addition, during the research, the functional method was used to clarify the role of public authorities in ensuring the effective use of international assistance; the dialectical-legal method served to comprehend the internal contradictions and development trends of the legal framework in the field of veteran entrepreneurship; and the method of legal forecasting made it possible to formulate proposals for improving legislation and the institutional environment, taking into account the prospective integration of international investment mechanisms into the post-war economy of Ukraine. The purpose of the article is to provide a scholarly justification for the need to improve regulatory and institutional mechanisms for engaging international investment programs in the development of veteran entrepreneurship in Ukraine, as well as to identify key law enforcement issues that hinder the effective functioning of such programs, followed by the formulation of proposals for creating a favorable legal environment for the socially oriented economic reintegration of veterans. Conclusions. Public administration in the field of veteran entrepreneurship development involving international investment programs is an important instrument of the state's social policy aimed at ensuring the dignified reintegration of veterans, stimulating their economic activity, and strengthening social cohesion in the context of post-conflict recovery. The role of the state consists in establishing a clear legal foundation for the functioning of veteran business entities, developing relevant regulations, coordinating participation in international programs, and introducing incentive mechanisms, including tax, financial, and advisory support tools. Executive authorities and local self-government bodies must ensure the effective implementation of such programs at the regional level, including informing target groups, supporting investment projects, monitoring the legal status of participants, and creating institutional capacity for interaction with international donors. Against the backdrop of limited budgetary resources during wartime, special importance is attached to the development of innovative public-private partnership mechanisms and the creation of specialized coordination structures or support funds for veteran businesses with the involvement of international technical assistance. Legislative regulation should provide for comprehensive support for veterans as entrepreneurs, considering not only commercial law but also social, rehabilitative, and investment aspects. A critical condition for the successful implementation of such programs is the integration of veteran policy into national economic development strategies, the strengthening of inter-agency coordination, and the assurance of transparency, accountability, and stability in legal regulation. A systemic and cross-sectoral approach should ensure the synergy of efforts among all public administration actors, international partners, and civil society.