Arseniy Yatsenyuk: Our approach to privatization is simple and clear - price

Privatization of public enterprises will be fair and transparent, it will attract investment and create jobs. Prime Minister of Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk told this in an interview to Channel 5 on Sunday.

"What is the difference between our approaches and approaches that existed a few years ago? At that time privatization rules were subscribed in line with a particular buyer, usually directly from Ukraine. There were about two dozen of buyers that decided among themselves who purchased what," he said.

"Today we use a simple and clear approach: our basic approach is the price. Those who pay more, get more. No artificial limits," Arseniy Yatsenyuk stressed.

The Prime Minister recalled that on July 13 the United States would host the first investment conference, where Ukraine would present its investment opportunities.

"I have asked our American friends: if you cannot send your military in order to protect Ukraine, send your business to protect Ukraine," he said.

"Why do we need investment? We need to create jobs in the country," he added.

The Prime Minister has noted that he explains to potential investors that now "it is just the most profitable time to invest into Ukraine – regarding the assets’ price": "Well, there is a risk, but price will compensate this risk. Come, invest money. You will earn - not today, you will earn in 5 years. And we earn the same, because we need jobs, we need taxes."

At the same time, he noted that some political forces in Ukraine are objecting to privatization because they want to continue pulling money out of the state budget.

"The current lack of desire to privatize state enterprises actually means only one thing - political parties want to continue to exploit public companies and suck money from state companies. They have de facto privatized them," he stated.

As an example Arseniy Yatsenyuk has led the state company Ukrspirt. "You begin to understand who exploits Ukrspirt - pure corruption."

Arseniy Yatsenyuk said that the Government advocates privatization of several energy companies, primarily Tsentrenergo, a number of chemical companies, a range of infrastructure facilities.

"But this should be fair, transparent, competitive privatization," he emphasized.