Chamber News

On 4 October members of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine first met with Volodymyr Kistion, Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine. The meeting was focused on discussing issues in the competence of the vice prime minister, namely the State Road Fund, road construction, budget issues in the area of infrastructure, sea & river transport reform, priorities of increasing energy independence, including electricity sector, coal industry and the oil & gas sector.

Mr. Kistion stressed that the Government welcomes such cooperation and highlighted the importance of ensuring transparent and equal rules for doing business in Ukraine. Inter alia, the speaker presented the Government’s current priorities in terms of infrastructure and energy sectors, focusing on:

— Deregulation of permit procedures for business;

— Ensuring the energy independence of Ukraine;

— Introducing the draft concept on development of gas production;

— Establishment of the Investment Office aimed at improving the investment climate;

— The Government’s current activities in terms of road construction;

— Improving the situation in the railway sector with regard to ensuring its proper functioning;

— Ukraine’s transit capacity load.

Mr. Kistion’s remarks were followed by a Q&A session, during which Chamber members raised a number of issues, among which were the operating activities of state rail operator Ukrzaliznytsia, ways to step up the transit potential of Ukraine, sea port issues and anti-corruption initiatives.

Finishing his speech the specker stressed that he personally is open to constructive dialogue with the business community for consolidating efforts aimed at establishing a favorable investment and business climate in Ukraine. As a result of the meeting, it was agreed to hold another focused discussion in a month’s time.