Ukraine expects further deepening partnership with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko said during the opening of the first meeting of EBRD Board of Directors, the president's press service reported. The event was held for the second time in Kyiv.
"Ukraine wants to become a territory of European investment and has the necessary potential for this. Long cooperation with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is clear evidence of this," the president said.
He said that that the bank was Ukraine's most effective and biggest investor for Ukraine. "The Ukrainian economy received over EUR 3.2 billion for financing the development of transport and communications, municipal infrastructure, energy and energy saving measures. It is important that the bank be a manager of the Chornobyl Shelter Fund that will help turn a sarcophagus into an ecologically safe system," Yushchenko said.
The head of state praised an EBRD new strategy for Ukraine and a cooperation plan for 2007-2009. Yushchenko expressed confidence that Ukraine's main task of increasing the competitive ability of its economy would be jointly implemented.
In his speech, the president confirmed that the EBRD had become a reliable partner for Ukraine since its independence. "As a result of fruitful cooperation, we currently have one of the largest portfolio of EBRD projects among Central and Eastern European countries. The efforts were not in vain. Ukraine is dynamically developing. It occupies one of the first places in Europe according to its economic growth," he said.
Speaking about Ukraine's economic achievements, Yushchenko said the country's banking sector is developing in a stable and dynamic way. As of early May 2008, 177 banks, including one third of them with foreign assets, were operating in Ukraine. The assets of the banking system are on the increase. Its net profit grew by 52% over three months and amounted to USD 412 million.
The Ukrainian president thanked participants in the meeting for deciding to hold a similar event in Ukraine. "We are grateful to the [EBRD] Board of Directors for deciding to hold a meeting in Ukraine - twice in ten years. We regard this as a high assessment of economic reforms, the democratic and legal progress of our state," he said.
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