Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko has promised foreign investors to hold honest and open privatization, starting with the privatization of the Odesa Port Plant.
“Everything has been done in Ukraine for purchase and sale procedures, privatization and licensing to be open and without any corrupt procedures,” she stated, appearing before participants of the Ukrainian Investment Forum that took place as part of the EBRD business forum in Kyiv on Saturday.
“The most transparent privatization in the last 17 years is planned for Tuesday,” underscored Tymoshenko, having in mind the competition for the sale of the Odesa Port Plant.
She noted that “unfortunately, most of the flagships of Ukrainian production were sold long ago in lobbies.”
“Today you need to break many systems to have transparent privatization processes. Nevertheless, we will ensure that privatization is honest and transparent,” she emphasized.
The Premier also noted that the government is working on an automatic system of VAT repayment.
“I’m waiting for the time, which gets closer with every week, when we will remove manual administration from the tax administration,” added Tymoshenko.
She also drew investors’ attention to the fact that the government’s Council of Investors has already developed two draft laws “On concessions” and “On the public-private partnership” which according to the Premier will allow “rather large investments” to be made into the organization of the Euro-2012 championship in Ukraine.
“This is a priority. All the programs have been passed, all conflicting mechanisms have been removed and all the paths have been cleared,” stated Tymoshenko.
She explained that changes to the Constitution are being prepared that will allow for reform of the legal system and free it of corrupt people.
“We know how to free courts of commercial and administrative influence and ensure responsibility for consciously passing illegal decisions,” said Tymoshenko, noting:
“All the changes are currently being agreed upon with various political teams in the Verkhovna Rada and various branches of power.”
“Without justice it will be very difficult to develop the investment climate in Ukraine,” she stated.
The Premier also mentioned that Ukraine has begun talks with the EU on creating a free trade zone.
