Prime Minister urges local authorities to effectively invest the tools obtained as a result of decentralization into development of local economy

Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman calls on leaders of cities to use delegated authorities and tools as a result of decentralization for the development of local economy. He announced this during the International Mayors Congress dedicated to considering issues of global development of cities on Monday.

"The resource, the powers and the tools we have today provide the opportunity to develop local economy. I'd prefer you to be effective and use these opportunities to create new jobs, to improve the process of the administration of taxes," said Volodymyr Groysman.

"I wish that an issue of development of the local economy was included into a priority list of your agenda," he said.

The Government has recently established an Investment Support Office that will monitor problematic issues of making business in Ukraine, told the Prime Minister.

"We want to have the map of Ukraine for us to understand key indicators for each region of how the business feels. We want to see whether they are returned VAT timely, whether they get permission on time, or whether they are suffering from additional inspections," said Volodymyr Groysman.

"We believe that it is crucial to ensure comfort of business on the ground. Businesses need good environment for their development. This means that each location will have a chance to create new jobs, competition, produce products of better quality, we will be able to develop our national economy at last", he stressed.

In this regard the Head of Government urged local authorities to support, protect, and help businesses, to ensure timely provision of necessary services, as well as partnership with the newly set up Investment Support Office that will allow us to "attract business, create normal conditions, so that business could invest in Ukraine".

Apart from that the Prime Minister stressed the need for legalization of the local economy, which in particular will be possible due to the recent decision of the Government to raise from 2017 the minimum wage twofold - up to UAH 3200, he said.