Oleksii Pavlenko: Dutch experience and investments will help to create new opportunities for Ukraine’s agriculture

“The Association Agreement is a road map for changes in Ukraine. This is the matter of reforms – an institutional reform, land reform, business environment simplification and the creation of conditions for businesses, including Dutch, to invest in Ukraine.  We are fully committed to the reform process and will continue it”, Oleksii Pavlenko, the Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, noted in his report at the closing meeting of the panel discussion “Agriculture and Food Processing”, held in the framework of the Business Forum Ukraine-Netherlands.

The Minister also noted that Ukraine has a huge potential and, with the help of Dutch experience in agriculture, with investments and the Ukrainian resources, people and fertile land, the country may create thousands of new possibilities in the agricultural sector.

“Currently, the agricultural sector of Ukraine works at only 50% of its full capacity because of outdated methods and technologies. At this point, investments are needed to increase the level of competition in all the branches of agriculture.  In order to unlock its agricultural potential Ukraine needs investments in infrastructure, manufacturing of products with high added value, precise technologies, and equipment. There are the promising areas, where Dutch businesses can invest resources,” Oleksii Pavlenko noted.

The Minister thanked the Dutch part for support and expressed his hope to continue cooperation in agricultural sector between the two countries.