The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved the draft letter to the government of Japan on the project of construction of bridge across the Pivdenny Buh river in Mykolaiv. The relevant decision was made at a meeting on Wednesday. In the explanatory note it is specified that it is necessary for official confirmation of intention and interest of Ukraine in joint implementation of this construction with the government of Japan and the Japanese agency of international cooperation, and it will also specify the priority of the project for development of Mykolaiv region and Ukraine as a whole.
The text of the letter is not provided.
As it was reported, in January, 2020 the Japanese agency of the international cooperation JICA confirmed cooperation in construction of the bridge in Mykolaiv.
JICA presented the project of construction of the bridge in Mykolaiv in June, 2018.
Japan on August 2 lifted the ban on the export of Ukrainian poultry and eggs, introduced in December 2020 in connection with the spread of pathogenic avian influenza in Ukraine, according to a Wednesday posting on the website of the State Service for Food Safety and Consumer Protection.
“We are not only creating new export opportunities for Ukrainian companies, but also restoring access to foreign markets that were closed for one reason or another. Such closure decisions are usually made quickly, and it takes a long effort to convince partners to reopen the market. I am glad that we managed to convince the Japanese partners of the safety of Ukrainian products, and from now on Ukrainian companies can again export their products,” the authority said, citing Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba.
The authority said that the Ukrainian side informed its Japanese partners in detail about the measures taken in Ukraine to combat outbreaks of avian influenza.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Andriy Taran, during his working visit to Japan, held talks with Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of this country Takashi Uto, during which Japan reaffirmed its unwavering support for the territorial integrity of Ukraine and its readiness to continue promoting economic development and reforms.
“The talks between Minister of Defense of Ukraine Andriy Taran and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Japan Takashi Uto have just ended. The frank conversation lasted an hour. Japan confirmed its unwavering support for the territorial integrity of Ukraine and its readiness to continue promoting economic development and reforms,” Ukrainian Ambassador to Japan Serhiy Korsunsky wrote on Facebook on Wednesday.
According to him, Taran and Uto discussed security issues in East Asia and Donbas, Japan’s participation in the Crimean Platform summit, and the threats that states face.
Also, Taran will have a meeting with Minister of Defense of Japan Mr. Nobuo Kishi.
As reported, Taran’s working visit to Japan began on March 16.
The State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection of Ukraine and the authorized body of Japan have agreed on the form of the veterinary certificate for exporting raw milk and dairy products to Japan, the service said on its website on Tuesday.
“We continue work towards expanding cooperation with international partners. This is very good news for Ukrainian producers interested in the export of raw milk and dairy products: the market of one of the largest strategic partners for Ukrainian food exports – Japan – has been opened,” the head of the authority, Vladyslava Mahaletska, said.
The State Food and Consumer Service said that the website has the example of a veterinary certificate for export to Japan.
JSC Ukrposhta announced the resumption of export shipments to Ukraine by Japan Post from February 26.
“Ukrposhta will deliver from Japan Express Mail Service [EMS] items ordered by Ukrainians and those that are delivered by plane,” the Ukrainian postal operator said on Friday.
The company recalled that until February 7, Japan Post had restrictions in its work and, accordingly, the shipment of postal items to other countries was limited.
At the same time, Ukrposhta notes that the export of Ukrainian goods to Japan did not stop even during the pandemic.
“In January, 95% of EMS items were delivered to the Japanese post offices within seven days, and 5% within two weeks,” the Ukrainian postal operator said.
Since the beginning of the quarantine, Ukrposhta has ensured the delivery of EMS items to 57 countries, now items are delivered to 120 countries, and after the stabilization of air traffic and the restoration of full-fledged work of national post offices, the service will be available for delivery to 195 countries.
During a working visit to Japan Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Shinichi Kitaoka, the press service of the head of state reported on Wednesday. “Cooperation with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is extremely important for our country, especially in the context of implementing large-scale reforms that are taking place now. Recently, the government approved an action plan for the next five years. We really believe that this program will not be implemented in theory, but in practice. This includes the development of human capital and economy, European integration and improving the security and welfare of Ukrainian citizens,” Zelensky said during the meeting, adding that the implementation of this plan will create a million additional jobs in the country.
The head of state said that the priorities of the current authorities of Ukraine include launching the land market, large-scale privatization, deregulation and simplification of all procedures with the transition to online services, elimination of the shadow economy and corruption schemes, solving infrastructure problems, optimizing the tax system, quickly and comprehensively introducing European and international standards.
The president thanked the agency for supporting Ukraine under the Official Development Assistance (ODA) program.
“We appreciate the technical assistance of Japan to support democratic institutions, ensure macroeconomic stability and concessional lending for important infrastructure projects in Ukraine,” Zelensky said.
The president said that one of the striking results of Ukraine’s joint work with JICA was the successful completion of the modernization of the Boryspil International Airport (Kyiv) through a soft loan. At the same time, Zelensky noted the importance of implementing the second project, namely, the modernization of the Bortnychi wastewater treatment plant, which will help prevent environmental pollution and increase the safety of people’s lives.
“I hope that in the near future a contract will be signed with the general contractor and construction work at the facility will begin from early next year,” he said.
The president announced Ukraine’s interest in continuing fruitful cooperation with JICA. Important promising infrastructure projects, in particular, may be the construction of a bridge over the Pivdenny Buh River in Mykolaiv as part of the improvement of the southern transport corridor; and preparing a project for the processing of solid household waste.
