Taras Kutovyi, the Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine hold the first meeting with Geoffrey R. Pyatt, the United States Ambassador to Ukraine.

Taras Kutovyi thanked the American side for support to Ukraine in general and to agricultural sector in particular. The Minister also spoke about strategy with working title «3+5» – basic development directions for agriculture sector. The finalization of land reforms is the first priority issue, which could allow almost for 7 million of Ukrainians to realize their rights to dispose the land property and create conditions for increasing investments in the agriculture. The second priority direction - the reforming of State`s support system for ensuring the predictability of total assistance and provide the direct support for those most in need - households, small and medium business. The third direction is development of rural areas and support for small producers in adapting the market conditions and finding new directions for the development.

The Minister stressed, the priorities will be provided through other five directions:  development of domestic and regional markets, support to organic food production and niche crops, the irrigation systems development and full functioning of SPSA (the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection).   

Taras Kutovyi further noted that one of priority direction is privatization of state-owned enterprises: «In my opinion, privatization of state - owned enterprises is a way to fight against corruption and inefficiency. Currently, the state enterprises generate billions of loses and paid of taxpayers.  Just a very few enterprises should stay under the Ministry`s management and the most should be privatized transparently and on competitive basis. Ukraine will get a lot of benefits for effective management: new technologies, new jobs and additional taxes to the budget ».

Geoffrey R. Pyatt, the United States Ambassador to Ukraine, confirmed that the USA is ready to continue cooperation and support to our State and agriculture, because this is the key sphere for Ukraine. 

Also the Ambassador added, currently the world famous companies work in Ukraine, and they are ready to increase their presence and to become partners in development of sales markets: «We rely on the assistance from the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine to facilitate the terms of doing business for the agrarians, particularly in issues of fiscal system and certification».  

At the end of discussion, the Ambassador invited Taras Kutovyi to meet with American Trade and Investment mission headed by Michael Scuse, the United States Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, when the delegation will visit Ukraine in June, 2016.

John A. Pennell, the Deputy Mission Director Regional Mission for Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova, Dwight Wilder, the Agricultural Attaché of the Foreign Agriculture Service at the United States Embassy to Ukraine and Daniel Nibarger, the Second Secretary of Economic Department of the Embassy also attended the meeting.