KYIV. June 8 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is ready to continue financing projects in Ukraine and the bank is waiting for successful reforms, head of the delegation and EBRD Director, the Netherlands, Mongolia, Macedonia and Armenia, Paul Vlaanderen said during a press conference at the EBRD representative office in Ukraine on June 5.
The EBRD is ready to provide assistance as long as the reforms are going in the right direction and the right projects are offered, and the EBRD is ready to invest, he said.
Vlaanderen said that the goal of the visit of the EBRD delegation was to assess the situation in Ukraine and analyze bank’s operations in the country. The delegation met Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniuk, Finance Minister Natalie Jaresko, National Bank of Ukraine Governor Valeriya Gontareva, MPs, and representatives of companies operating in Ukraine.
Vlaanderen pointed out the fight against corruption and the improving business climate in Ukraine. He said the judicial system and the functioning of the public management at all levels should be improved, as well as the operation of tax agencies.
He did not specify the concrete volume of the EBRD’s investment in Ukraine for 2015, adding that in 2013 it was EUR 820 million and in 2014 – over EUR 1.2 billion.
This level is acceptable and normal for the EBRD, he said.
Vlaanderen said that the economic sectors interesting for the EBRD in Ukraine are agriculture, energy, logistics, transport, pharmaceutical sector and IT.
The EBRD is the largest international financial investor in Ukraine. As of January 1, 2015, the Bank had a total cumulative commitment of EUR 10.4 billion in 344 projects in the country.
