The Government plans to speed up the privatization process, so it will offer the Verkhovna Rada to lift restrictions on the sale of a number of properties. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal told during his introductory speech at the Government meeting on December 23.

According to him, it concerns of large-scale privatization of 5 thermal power plants, 3 regional power plants, the Bolshevik enterprise, Odesa Portside Plant, United Mining and Chemical Company, and the President Hotel. The relevant bill was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers during the meeting.

"This bill was designed to unblock the "Great Privatization" in 2021. The planned sale of large state-owned enterprises will allow the Government to increase budget revenues to UAH 12 billion," said Denys Shmyhal.

The Prime Minister emphasized that privatization is a major blow to corruption and the interests of people who are accustomed to earning money in state-owned enterprises.

The Prime Minister also assured that the current budget year, despite a large number of challenges, Ukraine will end optimistically and the Government will manage to provide funding from the state budget for all payments to the people.

"In December alone, the Ministry of Finance was able to raise more than UAH 73 billion at DGBs auctions. Yesterday, the Ministry of Finance raised more than UAH 22 billion from the sale of bonds, and a week earlier received a record UAH 51.44 billion from the placement of securities in hryvnia, dollars and euros. We have also receiver more than EUR 600 million of macro-financial assistance from the EU," the Head of Government stressed, adding that the Treasury account has sufficient liquidity to ensure all necessary payments.

According to Denys Shmyhal, UAH 541 million was transferred on Tuesday to repay salary arrears to miners of state-owned coal mining companies.

"This is the second part of the amount of UAH 1.4 billion provided for the payment of arrears of wages for miners of state-run coal mines. The miners received the first part of this amount - UAH 850 million - on Friday," the Prime Minister told.