Valerii Voshchevskii: The United Nations will help officials in reforming the energy sector, infrastructure and environment

In the framework of the existing projects, the United Nations will render advisory support on reforming the sectors of energy, infrastructure and environment. Such accord was reached following a meeting of Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine Valerii Voshchevskii with the UN Resident Coordinator in Ukraine Neal Walker at Government House.

The Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine expressed gratitude to Neal Walker for the huge activity the UN carries out in Ukraine.

During the meeting Valerii Voshchevskii told about the top priority measures of the Government to pursue the way of reforms in Ukraine.

The Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine informed in details about the steps directed to the upgrading the system of management of the exclusion zone, creating a new State Environmental Inspectorate and the reorganization of the Ukrzaliznytsia etc.

The parties also discussed the progress towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for Ukraine for 2000-2015, and confirmed the need to introduce in Ukraine 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that will be addressed at the UN Summit in the framework of the 70th UN General Assembly session due on September 25-27, 2015 in New York.

"I am grateful that the UN supports the intentions of the Government of Ukraine to implement reforms in the economy and society based on sustainable development principles, despite the difficult situation in the East of the country. The topmost importance for us is the creation of high-quality and reliable infrastructure, sustainable energy supplies and energy efficiency, industrial growth and effective environmental management," explained Valerii Voshchevskii.

The Vice Prime Minister emphasized, it is necessary to create a flexible mechanism of coordination of power, business and civil society.

It should be noted that the adaptation of the SDGs will provide a solid foundation for the realization of the Sustainable Development Strategy "Ukraine-2020".

Neal Walker invited Valerii Voshchevskii to participate in the work of the 70th session of the UN General Assembly and noted that presentation by Ukraine of its vision of Sustainable Development Goals would increase the confidence of the international community and investors to reforms within the state.

Following the meeting, the parties agreed to establish a working group to accelerate reforms taking into account the Sustainable Development Goals in the Ukrainian economy, in particular in energy, infrastructure and environment.