Independent Business Ombudsman Institution established in Ukraine - Memorandum of Understanding to support Ukrainian Anti-Corruption Initiative

Arseniy Yatsenyuk called establishment of the Independent Business Ombudsman Institution “a very significant step forward”: “For the entrepreneurs, business representatives and investors it means they have an independent person with the right to publicly appeal to the Government in case certain corruption facts are revealed on the Customs, in Tax Administration, in state authorities, in state regulatory bodies in which entrepreneurs are derogated of rights”.

For the western investors, as also the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, establishment of this position, according to Arseniy Yatsenyuk “means that billions of money invested into Ukrainian economy will be used on transparent basis and a corruption element will be minimized in the process of use of the mentioned funds”.

“The Government has received a public critic, an assistant, capable to reveal corruption facts and capable to tell definitely where it [corruption] is and how to overcome it, which laws and normative-legal acts should be approved to improve business environment,” the Prime Minister emphasized.

He informed the mentioned Anti-Corruption Initiative would operate on the “trilateral level”: “The Government of Ukraine, our foreign investors and Ukrainian business represented by relevant profile associations”.

The Head of Government noted that “a person having high international reputation and significant work experience in business area in Eastern Europe” should be appointed to the post of Independent Ombudsman.

Under the Memorandum, an ombudsman candidate should be agreed through the consensus among the Government, business circles and international financial institutions, which will ensure independency and neutrality. “It is for the first time when international financial institutions, the Government and business structures appoint with the consensus a person who will represent interests of business structures and curb corruption,” the Prime Minister explained.  

Moreover, Arseniy Yatsenyuk told about the EBRD investment plan for Ukraine: “Tanks on Ukraine’s border haven’t frightened our investors and an ambitious program amounting EUR 1 billion will be directed to new workplaces, road construction, gas transporting system upgrade, a reform in energy sector and erection of new power lines, a series of additional projects in banking and financial sectors”.

“This is the best response to how to make Ukraine a European country,” he added.

“Our Government is targeting real changes within the country: combating corruption, setting up new workplaces, reforming the country – all this is included into an agenda, which proves necessary today. And we are grateful for we have serious international financial institutions, being investors into solving the problems of the country,” Arseniy Yatsenyuk said.

The Memorandum of Understanding to support the Ukrainian Anti-Corruption Initiative was signed by the Prime Minister of Ukraine, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development President Sir Suma Chakrabarti, the President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine Bernard Casey, deputy Chairman of the Federation of Ukrainian Employees Dmytro Oliynyk, Director of the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development Global Relations Secretariat Marcos Bonturi, Executive Director of European Business Association Anna Derevyanko, President of Chamber of Industry and Commerce of Ukraine Hennadii Chyzhykov, President of the Ukrainian League of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs Anatolii Kinakh.