KYIV. Sept 20 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the strategy of modernization and development of the Pension Fund of Ukraine until 2020, which provides for the introduction by the end of 2016 of the possibility of servicing citizens in any office of the fund regardless of the place of residence.
“This strategic document foresees strategic directions in the development and modernization of the Pension Fund until 2020,” First Deputy Minister of Social Policy Olha Krentovska said.
Pension Fund Head Oleksiy Zarudny noted the strategy foresees the introduction in 2016 of the possibility of servicing citizens in any office of the fund regardless of the place of residence, while providing services to citizens will be provided at the community level.
It is planned to introduce electronic pension service and create a unified electronic database of pension cases.
Although Ukraine is trying hard to solve the problem of diversification of exports due to the loss of eastern markets and the Republic of Turkey may become the best partner in many respects, trade between Ukraine and Turkey is on the decline. The industrial community together with government agencies should strive to change the situation. This was discussed at a meeting of President of the Ukrainian League of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, head of the Anti-Crisis Council of NGOs Anatoliy Kinakh and Commercial Counselor of the Embassy of Turkey in Ukraine Haidar Kocak.
Trade between Ukraine and Turkey in 2015 fell by a quarter and the first half of 2016 it slid by another 17%. This does not fit into the foreign strategy of both countries and needs to be fixed. What is more, the Turkish industry needs such commodities as steel and fertilizers, which are produced by Ukraine in sufficient quantities.
The Turkish side insists that the introduction of free trade regime between the countries can significantly improve the situation. Progress was achieved in that issue, but Ukraine has decided to review certain positions. “In the end, it has turned out that Ukraine would like to leave 80% of traditional Turkish exports outside the free trade agreement, but precisely these positions are of paramount importance to us,” the commercial counselor stressed.
Anatoliy Kinakh in turn said that the process of negotiations on free trade is always difficult because every country seeks to increase exports of value-added commodities and limit the supply of raw materials. All of them are trying to protect the domestic markets and support domestic producers.
“However, in view of the fact that Turkey is our very important trade partner, I believe that the approval of free trade is timely, and agreement of the positions must accelerate. That is why we are ready to arrange a joint roundtable meeting in October this year with Turkish producers, members of the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkey and Ukraine that are ULIE members, representatives of ministries and departments to discuss all disputable issues,” Anatoliy Kinakh said.
Haidar Kocak informed the ULIE president that two Turkish companies in Ukraine were being inspected by Ukrainian law-enforcement agencies, which slowed their work and reduced efficiency.
The leader of the Ukrainian League of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs said that companies from neighboring states would have support from the ULIE and its employees in protecting the rights and interests of businesses.
The sides expressed confidence that the Ukrainian-Turkish economic and investment relations have every reason to continue sustainable development based on trust, mutual benefit and understanding.
Partners from the European Union do not rule out that Ukraine may join the EU’s Investment Plan, however, the main condition is the successful adaptation of Ukraine’s economy to regulations and standards adopted in the EU and the accelerated modernization of the economy.
Boosting Ukraine’s participation in EU projects was discussed by Ukrainian delegates, who attended the 26th Economic Forum of Central and Eastern Europe in the Polish city of Krynica Zdroj, along with representatives of European institutions, politicians and diplomats. The Ukrainian delegation included industrialists and entrepreneurs, as well as activists of the National Forum “Transformation of Ukraine.”
Joining the so-called “Juncker plan” is in Ukraine’s interest. This is a five-year European Union Investment Plan worth EUR 315 billion. It was proposed by President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker.
The project is based on injection of EUR 21 billion in seed money in the economy in order attract private investment, which should make up most of the target sum.
“Our goal is to join the project. EU partners do not rule out this, but we need to do our homework in the end: adapt the economy, create incentives for growth of business and investment activity, fully switch to international safety, quality and production standards,” President of the Ukrainian League of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (ULIE) Anatoliy Kinakh said.
He sees that this “slightly open” window of opportunity is an excellent incentive for quicker and more efficient reforms in the country. What is more, there are achievements in that direction – a bailout program developed by the Anti-Crisis Council of NGOs to overcome negative economic consequences and a concept paper for transformation of the state, which was prepared by the National Forum “Transformation of Ukraine.”
The Transformation of Ukraine Forum includes representatives of the Ukrainian state institutions, politicians, the clergy, businessmen, public figures, EU representatives, foreign experts and diplomats. One of the members of the Supervisory Board is an active lobbyist of Ukraine – Jerzy Kwiecinski, who is Secretary of State in Poland’s Ministry of Economic Development and a member of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Poland. He helps facilitate not only relations with the government but also with the parliaments of neighboring states.
Polish experts are ready to share their experience, participate in the elaboration of the concept of a program for the development of Ukraine. They also expressed their intention to continue support of Ukraine’s position regarding the deepening of cooperation with the EU, greater integration under joint projects.
“But we do not focus only on friendly partners from Poland. We use the ULIE’s representative office in Brussels to be in constant dialogue directly with the leadership of the EU, the European Parliament, the European Commission, and others. Partners from BusinessEurope, the largest business association in Europe, have also been engaged in lobbying Ukrainian business’ interests and strengthening their contacts with European colleagues,” the ULIE president said.
The ULIE signed a memorandum of cooperation with BusinessEurope, which involves, among other things, joint monitoring of EU programs and the participation of Ukrainian businesses and NGOs in them.
“These are great and yet unrealized opportunities. We should do our best and avail ourselves of these opportunities,” Anatoliy Kinakh said.
European officials, heads of national government, businesspeople gathered for one of the most important economic and political events in Central and Eastern Europe, the 26th Economic Forum, held in the Polish city of Krynica Zdroj on September 6-8. The event focused on the EU’s unity.
They discussed macroeconomics, management, international politics and security. This is a unique opportunity to reach preliminary agreements on major subjects of economic life, energy and others.
How it is possible for Ukraine to participate in the global Fourth Industrial Revolution? How to attract investment to the country? The answers to these strategic questions will be given by world-renowned economists and reformers during the 3rd Kyiv International Economic Forum.
The 3rd Kyiv International Economic Forum (KIEF) under the slogan “Ukraine on the eve of the Fourth Industrial Revolution” will take place in Kyiv on October 6-7, 2016. As compared to the first two Forums, both the subject and scale of the event have been changed. The subject of KIEF 2016 will be maximally close to the practice of attracting investment to Ukraine and its participation in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, which has become the keynote of this year’s World Economic Forum in Davos.
At the next turn of the global development associated with the manifestation of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, countries of the world compete for a place among those who possess new technologies. Ukraine can’t ignore this process, although a lot of opportunities missed over the past 25 years push our country to the periphery of the world processes. So, how can we take another chance given by history on the eve of the new industrial revolution?
“We want a lively and fruitful discussion at KIEF 2016 to help improve national economic policy and propose effective strategies for businesses. It is extremely important for Ukraine to participate in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Due to this, we have also changed the Forum’s slogan “Ukraine: from the Third World to the First” for the new one, which underlines the fact that our country has got the potential to be among the players of the Industrial Revolution 4.0,” says Yurii Pivovarov, the Executive Director of the Kyiv International Economic Forum.
The keynote of KIEF 2016 will be the issue of attracting investment. Crisis traits of the Ukrainian economy can be considered positive when it comes to the opportunity of getting lower asset prices. The production infrastructure is largely outdated, but investments can bring high capitalization, considering the educated and inexpensive labor force, and developed transport channels of our country, which borders with four EU members and has easy access by sea to Turkey and the Middle East. During the second day of the Forum, the experts will discuss the opportunities that are opened to foreign investors in Ukraine, the investment attractiveness of various economic sectors and investment programs of Ukrainian regions.
КIEF-2016 will bring together several dozen leading foreign and Ukrainian economists, reformers, businessmen and government officials. Including experts from countries, whose experience of economic transformation can be useful for Ukraine.
The first KIEF that was held in 2014 presented the overall vision for the modernization of Ukraine’s economy. The tools to help Ukraine make an economic breakthrough were identified at the second KIEF, which brought together 67 experts from 20 countries, 150 media and more than 800 guests. World-renowned economists recommended Ukraine to purposefully manage the economy through the Business–Government–Society triangle, and not leave it to the mercy of the free market. To convey the ideas of the Forum to the politicians, business community and civil society, a communication platform was set up under the auspices of KIEF, with the series of thematic round tables.
Follow the news on the Forum’s website (http://forumkyiv.org/en/ ) and on the official Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/kyiveconomicforum).
Kyiv International Economic Forum (KIEF) is a permanently operating venue for the formation of Ukrainian economic development strategy. It is aimed to set up a dialogue between experts, businesses and government, borrowing the best international practices, creating a road map for the development and promotion of the conversion of ideas into the real action.
VINNYTSIA. Sept 16 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Vinnytsia has officially launched the U-LEAD with Europe program to support decentralization in Ukraine.
“The decentralization reform is crucial in order to re-establish and strengthen the link between the local communities and their representatives,” European Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn said, when launching the program.
“The ongoing of the decentralization reform in Ukraine already provides real benefits to local communities through increase in local budgets and has a great potential to bring even more,” he stated.
Hahn said the U-LEAD program would support Ukraine in establishing a more transparent multi-level governance system, which is accountable and responsive to the needs of all citizens of Ukraine.
At the launch event, Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman thanked the European Union for its continued support to the decentralization process in Ukraine and stressed the government’s commitment to the implementation of this milestone reform.
The U-LEAD program provides for improvement of administrative services at the local level and strengthening the capacity of implementing the reform policy at the national, regional and local levels. At the local level it is planned to create and reconstruct up to 600 centers for providing administrative services, as well as conduct 1,800 trainings for their employees.
The program budget is EUR 102 million. Its implementation is planned for the period from 2016 to 2020.
