President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting involving the representatives of the Cabinet of Ministers and the Verkhovna Rada on the fulfillment of the tasks set before the government and plans for the near future.
“Two decrees of the President on the tasks of the government and parliament in economic and social issues have been issued. 30 tasks have been completed, 13 have been completed partially or are in the process of completion, 9 tasks have not been completed,” the Head of State said at the beginning of the meeting.
In particular, he said, the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development has not fulfilled the task of drafting a bill on enhancing the capacity of the Regional Development Agency, enhancing the competitiveness of regions, ensuring the development and approval of the State Regional Development Strategy for 2021-2028. The Ministry of Energy and Environmental Protection has failed to fulfill the task of concluding a product distribution agreement, implementing a system of integrated permits for pollutant emissions, as well as reforming the State Environmental Inspectorate. The Ministry for Development of Economy, Trade and Agriculture has not taken measures to reduce illegal employment and de-shadow incomes of population. The Ministry of Infrastructure has not drafted a bill reforming rail transportation.
The President also stressed that the Verkhovna Rada had not yet considered the bills on inland waterway transport, on the state regulation of activities related to the organization and conducting of gambling, on amendments to certain legislative acts regarding the circulation of agricultural land, on amendments to the Budget Code aimed to improve the efficiency of using the funds of the State Regional Development Fund, on strengthening the intellectual property rights.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged the government and parliament to step up their work.
The Head of State also suggested allocating $ 2.9 billion received by Naftogaz of Ukraine from Gazprom for the implementation of infrastructure projects and the development of the medical industry.
“We are planning to allocate additional funds for road construction – this is our infrastructure priority, for other infrastructure projects, for the medical sector and energy efficiency. One of the plans is to build more than 200 medical aid stations across Ukraine,” the President said and urged the Cabinet of Ministers to draft the necessary documents within two weeks.
In addition, Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed the importance of solving the issue of wage arrears to miners and developing a concept for the reorganization of the coal industry. He noted that as of January 1, 2020, the debt to miners was UAH 922 million.
“The debt situation needs to be resolved shortly. That is why we expect the government to elaborate a comprehensive program restructuring the coal industry and provide the results of the state mines audit,” the President emphasized.
As for the reform of the alcohol sector, the Head of State emphasized the importance of introducing an electronic excise stamp, implementing the Law on State Regulation of Production and Circulation of Alcohol, as well as ensuring the liberalization of the market.
Minister of Finance Oksana Markarova noted that the service of excise stamp verification had already been launched.
“This service already works in test mode until February 14. After we examine and process it in test mode within a month, we will complete the draft law. The project will have started working in full by March 1,” she said.
The Head of State also expects the Cabinet of Ministers to approve all necessary bylaws within two months and start preparing Ukrspirt for privatization.
In addition, law enforcement agencies together with the government and the Office of the President should step up the fight against the Illicit trade in alcohol.
The President also commissioned the Cabinet of Ministers to submit proposals as regards the implementation of the Investment nanny program by the end of February.
Prime Minister of Ukraine Oleksiy Honcharuk informed that an investment atlas and Investment Support Office had already been established to work with foreign and domestic investors.
He added that the Ukrainian companies had already addressed the government, declared their intention to invest more than $ 100 million and asked for an “investment nanny”.
According to the Prime Minister, work is still underway to improve the Internet coverage of Ukraine’s remote corners.
“To this end, we have agreed with the mobile operators and the regulator on the possibility of using a new frequency band. This will allow us to significantly improve the quality of communication in less populated territories already in the summer,” he said.
According to Oleksiy Honcharuk, the government pays great attention to road safety, in particular CCTV cameras are already operating throughout Ukraine.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed the importance of beginning large-scale construction of roads and continuing the reform of the medical sector.
