KYIV. June 10 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin and Israeli Honorary Consul in Lviv Oleg Vishnyakov share the view that Ukraine and Israel should promote the process of setting up a free trade area, Vishnyakov’s press service said in a statement circulated on Tuesday.
“The policymakers shared the opinion that the process of setting up a free trade area between the countries should be promoted. While raw materials make up the principal share of Ukraine’s exports [about $800 million a year], a significant quantity of technologies are bought in Israel,” it said.
Not only would the existence of a free trade area significantly increase trade turnover between the two countries, but it would also boost Israeli investments in Ukrainian projects, Vishnyakov said.
A joint economic forum planned for the end of October should serve as an important step toward “familiarization of Ukrainian and Israeli businesses with each other” and an opportunity “to find partners or investors, familiarize Israelis with Ukraine and its specifics, and enable Israeli investors to see personally that western Ukraine is a region that is economically attractive and safe for investments,” it said.
