KYIV. June 29 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman and Germany’s Finance Minister Wolfgang Schauble met on Tuesday, June 28, to discuss the support that Germany can possibly give to the reforms planned by the Ukrainian government in such areas as customs, energy saving, and privatization.
“We are committed to carry on with reform,” Ukraine’s Cabinet of Ministers press service quoted Groysman as saying at the onset of the meeting.
Groysman noted that the new Ukrainian government started privatizing state-owned businesses and, in particular, resolved to privatize one of the largest Ukrainian enterprises, Odesa Port-Side Plant. Besides, the government has deregulated prices in the markets for gas, pharmaceuticals and started reforming customs, he said.
Groysman emphasized the Cabinet of Minister’s desire to attract the German investment in the Ukrainian economy. The prime minister remarked that on Monday, June 27, he met with German business representatives who noted some improvements in the investment climate and showed readiness to intensify their activities in Ukraine.
Groysman and Schauble also discussed issues related to the cooperation in the area of energy efficiency, including the German support to the efforts on creation and operation of the state-sponsored Energy Efficiency Fund, maintenance of its transparent and efficient work.
The interlocutors also discussed the support that Germany can offer in relation to Ukraine’s Customs Service reforming and technical re-equipment.
Schauble expressed readiness to offer consultative support to the privatization process in Ukraine.
“We are ready to assist, advise, share our experience in privatization,” he said.
The Ukrainian government will designate persons in charge of its interaction with the German side in such cooperation areas as energy efficiency, the customs reform and the Ukrainian privatization, Groysman said.
Schauble, in turn, said that Germany is ready to support Ukraine and Ukrainian government on the march toward reform.
“You face an enormous challenge and we will give you support,” Schauble said.
The Ukrainian government delegation led by Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman held a working visit to Germany on June 27-28, 2016.
