This month the Government is due to submit a draft law on the State Budget for 2017 to the Parliament. The Cabinet of Ministers expects the synergy with the Parliament and approval of “a real, honest budget in taking into account the real state of economy, containing an investment component to trigger growth." This was announced by Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman during A Question Time for the Government on Friday, September 9.

Volodymyr Groysman told about the main priorities determined in the draft budget.

"Surely, the first priority is the security and defense", said the Head of Government. Moreover, the plans for next year include large-scale construction of roads with changing a funding system. Another point on the list is to prolong decentralization process preserving the positive changes.

A separate issue is the support of energy efficiency which implies the security, energy independence of our country.

"We intend to draw considerable resource, including from international partners, in the Fund which can be established due to the adoption of the law on Energy Efficiency Fund," stressed the Prime Minister of Ukraine.

Agricultural production also requires support and it concerns small farms. The amount of such support will amount about UAH 5 billion or 1% of the gross agricultural products. The Prime Minister stressed the need to create added value in Ukraine, and this resource can be used, in particular, to support domestic agricultural machine-building.

Special attention will be given to the Ukrainian education. "We must provide high quality education for children in kindergartens, schools, vocational institutions and higher educational institutions. We should create a high-quality state sponsorship, which will correspond with training staff in our educational institutions and the needs of the labour market that is absent today", noted Volodymyr Groysman and informed that for consideration of the MPs will tabled a proposal to raise salaries for teachers.

The Government will focus next year on infrastructure projects, filling the Regional Development Fund together with local budgets to implement relevant programmes.

The Prime Minister spoke about the development of an effective model of reforming the remuneration system: "I believe that wages of Ukrainians are undervalued. We have some things to work out in order to offer an effective model. I want to assure you, as soon as we complete this work, we’ll present it to the Ukrainian Parliament and will ask for your assistance because it will be impossible for us to do without changes in laws".

At that the Head of Government reminded that from December 1, 2016, all social standards - the minimum wage and pension - will grow by 10 percent.

"We see 2017 as the year of growth. As it is vital to demonstrate synergy and draft an action plan for the development of Ukraine. Because Ukraine and Ukrainians are above all", stressed Volodymyr Groysman. He urged to stop all the political strife and do utmost to ensure normal wages, pensions, and stability of the economy capable to finance a strong Ukrainian army and to facilitate Ukraine to become a democratic European state".

"We have an ambitious plan and we are looking forward to the support of the MPs of Ukraine. Without you, without changes in the law, without the support of the budget it will be difficult for us to succeed", Volodymyr Groysman appealed to the MPs of Ukraine.