
Volodymyr Groysman: Ukraine counts to see the revitalization of investment cooperation with the U.S. in the energy, transport and small and medium-sized businesses
Ukraine praises strategic partnership with the United
States and intends to boost
investment cooperation with the United
States of America in the
energy, small and medium businesses
and transport sectors. This was
announced by Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr
Groysman during a meeting with the
President of the Overseas Private
Investment Corporation
(OPIC) Ray Washburne. CEO of OPIC joined the agency in
August 2017 and he visits Ukraine
for the first
time.
«Ukraine is undergoing the
process of transformations today. We have overcome
the economic collapse and have
achieved a steady economic growth. We need to
put into practice structural reforms in order
to achieve a further strengthening and dynamic development.
We are talking
about a total reset of the
state, and this requires investment.
U.S. investments are of utmost importance
for the country.
We are in
constant dialogue with the American
Chamber of Commerce, with the Embassy of
the United States, moreover we actively interact
with them regarding the development
of the business
climate», the Prime Minister noted.
In turn, the President of
the OPIC stressed that the Corporation
has a great interest in implementing
several projects in Ukraine at
the same time, namely, the
development of small and medium
enterprises, cooperation with the state
enterprise “National Nuclear Energy Generating Company “Energoatom”, the development of wind power technologies
in the southern
regions, in particular in Zaporizhia,
as well as
in modernization of the rolling
stock of the JSC Ukrzaliznytsia. Particular attention is paid to
projects in the port infrastructure
sector and the organization of energy supplies,
including coal from the USA.
«Small and medium business
support projects have already been
kicked off. Other initiatives are nearing its
final stage», underlined Ray Washburne. He added
that the financing of projects
with Energoatom is at least
$ 250 million, while wind energy projects
is to the
tune of $ 400 million.
"The United States wants to
see Ukraine an economically strong, and developed
country," claimed the President of
the OPIC .
The Prime Minister thanked the American side
and stressed that the current
joint target is to "not disappoint either Ukrainian citizens or partners."
Background
During the six months of
2017, the trade turnover between Ukraine and the
U.S. reached $ 2.5 billion.
The volume of investments for the same
period was $ 537 million. The Overseas Private Investment Corporation was established in 1971 and now is
a self-sustaining U.S. Government
agency that helps American businesses invest in emerging markets.
The volume of operations of
the corporation exceeded 150 billion dollars. In Ukraine,
the OPIC has been operating since 1995, and over 20 projects have been implemented
in such areas
as agribusiness, telecommunications, hotel business, retail trade, weapons utilization, etc.