Light industry of Ukraine possesses a considerable potential for growth and in the nearest future will be able to form 2% of the country’s GDP. This was stated by Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman after he toured the facilities of the largest enterprise in the light industry - Worsted and Carded Company Cheksil in Chernihiv.

"If in 1990s our production wфі considered to have lower levels of quality, but for today light-industry enterprises deliver goods not only to domestic markets inter alia abroad. Furthermore, this is a sector with high added value”, noted the Prime Minister. Today, we will hold the Forum on the development of light industry and we will identify grave problems as well as sectors in which the State can provide assistance, added Volodymyr Groysman.

The Head of Government stressed that the light industry reflects the desire need for better technical upgrading, for changing staff training system and for receiving assistance in the development of domestic and foreign markets.

«The domestic market has more than USD 100 billion. This is the tremendous potential. As for the technical modernization, we must create the conditions which will enable businesses to deliver modern equipment. To this end we need to create favorable environment», highlighted Volodymyr Groysman.

The Prime Minister put an emphasis to the fact that the Government will host a special meeting at which officials and light industry representatives will touch upon issues pertaining to consideration of customs procedures, to the creation of friendly environment and to development of ways aimed to overcome the so-called gray imports which is a significant barrier for the development of domestic light industry.

«In 2016 for the first time in 5 years light industry has demonstrated a growing trend. The share of light industry in terms of making of Ukraine’s GDP - less than 1%. But the potential for growth equals to 2%», stressed the Prime Minister.

He assured that the issue of assistance in encouraging export is in the spotlight. «For this purpose (assistance to business) we established Export Promotion Office, moreover we engage in building the potential for creation of free trade areas with many foreign countries», underscored the Prime Minister.