World Bank expresses readiness to support the Government in pursuing reforms necessary for Ukraine - the meeting of Volodymyr Groysman and Vice Presidents of the World Bank

Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman on Wednesday met with Senior Vice President of the World Bank responsible for operations Kyle Peters and Senior Vice President of the World Bank responsible for Europe and Central Asia Affairs Cyril Muller. The interlocutors discussed the agenda of reforms undertaken by the Ukrainian Government.

Volodymyr Groysman highly appreciated the level of cooperation between Ukraine and the World Bank, thanked for the support enabling the country’s leaders to carry out necessary transformations.

"Ukraine is following the path of transformation, reforms and changes. In many sectors we have the support of the World Bank’s experts: from banking and energy to the reforms in the social sphere. I am pleased to admit that our cooperation is rather deep and our agenda is dense. Undoubtedly, we attach special importance to the collaboration with the World Bank and interested in prolonging our effective work in the future", stressed the Head of Ukrainian Government.

Volodymyr Groysman also informed the leaders of the World Bank about the topmost objectives and the priorities of the Government in reforming the state. "The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine focuses on the preparation and upgrading of the pension system, basing on fairness principle, on how to make the Pension Fund deficit-free in the medium term and to increase pensions", explained Volodymyr Groysman.

"The year of 2017 is of great concern to me from the point of view of reducing the deficit of the Pension Fund. This is crucial as the change in the system of wages, deductions, a growing number of taxpayers and strengthening accountability have already yielded positive results. Throughout the 2 months we can observe a very positive dynamics", said the Prime Minister.

Moreover, the agenda of the Government includes preparation and implementation of a land reform and public privatization, the concept and the content of which were developed with the participation and support of the World Bank experts.

In turn, the Vice-presidents of the Bank Kyle Peters and Cyril Muller noted the progress made by the Ukrainian Government for the last 8 months in stabilizing the economy, restoring economic growth, raising the minimum wage.

They also assured of the readiness of the World Bank to back Ukraine on the path of vital transformations.

"We express our readiness to continue our cooperation aimed at supporting reforms undertaken by the Ukrainian Government, as well as to consider a possibility to launch new targeted programmes of financial assistance for Ukraine", said Senior Vice President Kyle Peters.