Prime Minister discussed with Vice-President of the EIB Vazil Hudak prospects of implementation in Ukraine of projects with European Investment Bank's participation

Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman held a meeting with Vice-President of the European Investment Bank Vazil Hudák. The parties tackled ways of deepening cooperation and potential areas of implementation of joint projects.

Volodymyr Groysman stressed that the Government attaches particular importance to the joint work of Ukraine and the European Investment Bank and is ready to deepen bilateral cooperation.

In particular, among the priorities for cooperation are the modernization of Ukrainian Railways, support of projects for the construction of pumped storage plants, energy efficiency, infrastructure and so on.

Moreover, the Government is interested in signing a loan agreement on the project "Higher education. Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Development", which will allow higher educational institutions to ensure the efficiency in energy use.

The Prime Minister stressed that as a result of fiscal decentralization the local budgets in Ukraine had accumulated a considerable resource and obtained opportunities and finances to cooperate with international financial institutions, to service loans and successfully implement projects.

Separately, the Head of Government stressed on the necessity of improving the performance of the investment portfolio. So, under the projects being implemented in Ukraine to the tune of EUR 2 billion there have been used only UAH 400 million.

According to him, it is crucial to systematize project management, to reduce the influence of bureaucracy to ensure efficient use of the funds.

In turn, Vice-President of the EIB Vazil Hudák noted that all European Union countries want to see Ukraine a stable and prosperous country, and a strategic partner as well.

According to him, the European Investment Bank is ready to participate in projects in Ukraine and expand cooperation. In particular, in the agricultural sector, introduction of innovations in education area. He also evaluated the high-level expertise of IT specialists.

"We have other projects. We want to move along fast and to become a reliable partner for Ukraine", said Vice-President of the European Investment Bank.

“We’ve been impressed with the people who are young, dynamic, with the vision and the commitment to reform Ukraine. We are here to work hard and help Ukraine to become a modernized and advanced country", he stressed.