The Government of Ukraine has determined its agenda for 2016 which includes a wide reform of the State Fiscal Service and the Customs Service, transparent privatization, winding up with the tax reform and further deregulation. Prime Minister of Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk announced in 10 Minutes with the Prime Minister programme on Sunday, February 14.

In order to create a favourable business environment, he considers task number one for the Ukrainian Government to restore order in the Ukrainian State Fiscal Service and the Ukrainian Customs.

Arseniy Yatsenyuk reminded the aforesaid reform had been announced by the Ministry of Finance at the last Government session that week. In particular, foreign companies will participate in reforming and management of four customs offices: “To let us see how it works in Western countries, to apply best foreign practices and demonstrate all the other customs offices high standards and methods to provide services to Ukrainian business and not to take bribes”.

According to him, the best mechanism to leverage foreign investment is fair and transparent privatization of state-owned property objects: “This is also a way of curbing corruption in state-owned companies”.

“This year we must launch comprehensive, transparent and honest privatization. And I believe that we have the full understanding of the Parliament regarding the need to attract the investor to Ukrainian companies to make investors place funds here, create new jobs and direct investment,” stressed Arseniy Yatsenyuk.

The Head of Government accentuated the need to complete the tax reform: “The first step has been taken. We reduced twofold one of the biggest taxes on business which is the tax on wages”.

However, he considers the tax reform process should imply apart from just changing taxation rates, “fundamental changes in the system of tax administration, the simplification of taxes and abolishing a number of bureaucratic functions, which only provoke corruption for taxpayers”.

“So here the Government and the Parliament should have one single platform of tax reform and I believe that the Parliament will support the Tax Code submitted by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine”, Arseniy Yatsenyuk emphasized.

Among other things, Arseniy Yatsenyuk views as crucial, is further deregulation process: “Deregulation has been ongoing throughout the past two years. A lot has been achieved, but not enough. Therefore, we should continue our work to gradually reduce the functions of government and simplify registration; licensing and other services provided by the State, in particular, those designed to directly ease life of every entrepreneur in the country”.