Ukraine carries on talks with IMF on extension of cooperation, Aivaras Abromavicius

The fact that an International Monetary Fund Mission arrived to Kyiv in the first days of the new Government’s work is a very good sign for its support, and a package of documents submitted by the Mission, in principle coincides with the position of the Minister of Economic Development and Trade and the Government as a whole, Minister of Economic Development and Trade Aivaras Abromavicius stated during a briefing at the Government House on Wednesday, December 10.

According to the Minister, the IMF Mission headed by Nikolay Georgiev arrived to Kyiv yesterday. There have been meetings with the National Bank, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade.

"There has been a general assessment of the situation. It is about a "stand-by", a 17.1-billion-dollar program aimed at funding. We discussed the situation, specific questions to the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade were associated with deregulation, the Minister said. - There are a set of documents, which basically coincides with the position of the Ministry and the Government as a whole. So, move on in the same direction."

This year Ukraine received assistance worth USD8.2 billion, while paid off USD10.7 billion, excluding payments of Naftogaz.

"We would like to expand the program," the Minister said noting that difficult economic situation is being discussed and the appropriate calculations are being made. In particular, during the meeting the parties discussed the de-monopolization "of entire industries, "reform of management of state-owned enterprises and etc.

The IMF Mission will work until December 18.