Arseniy Yatsenyuk in Berlin: Today's economic forum showed that German business is eager to invest in Ukraine

Today's Ukrainian-German economic forum has gathered over 600 business members: "This is a vivid signal that German business is interested in investing into Ukraine and our joint development," stressed Prime Minister of Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk at a briefing following his meeting with Federal Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel in Berlin on Friday, October 23.

"It is a sign that German entrepreneurs understand that Ukraine is pursuing reforms, and therefore, the Ukrainian economy is a promising field for German investments", added the Head of Government.

He expressed gratitude to Angela Merkel for "the joint work for the benefit of our nations": "For the first time in the history of our bilateral relations we have had a landmark and powerful investment conference. This is a rather significant step forward".

On the agenda is following the reform process. To ensure efficiency of Ukrainian reforms it is necessary to increase the institutional capacity of public authorities, in particular tax service and customs: "This will enable, on the one hand, to introduce fair and transparent rules for the Ukrainian and German businesses and for other investors coming to Ukraine as well. On the other hand - this will afford to curb corruption in the State Fiscal Service bodies".

Arseniy Yatsenyuk informed that at that time relevant departments of the Ukrainian and German Governments had embarked on discussing possible technical assistance to Ukraine basing on a Twinning project, namely for the tax and customs authorities.

The Prime Minister also stressed that Ukraine commends a decision of Germany to grant a EUR 500 million loan to restore the infrastructure and obtain interim financing to fill the Ukrainian gas storage facilities with gas.

Arseniy Yatsenyuk added that Ukraine is a reliable transit country: "In the past year Ukraine implemented all its obligations on transit and ensured deliveries of natural gas to the member countries of the European Union. This year we will also comply with our commitments and we hope that Russia will perform it as well."