The implementation of the Affordable Loans at 5-7-9% program has done its job well - expanding SMEs' access to finance and supporting businesses in turbulent times, complicated by the COVID-19 pandemic and its devastating impact on economies around the world. This was stated by the First Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Economy of Ukraine Oleksiy Lyubchenko in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine.

"I am surprised to hear calls from financial institutions regarding the ineffectiveness of this program, which was once initiated by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy in order to stimulate the development of domestic business," said Oleksiy Lyubchenko.

The top official also noted that under the program were concluded more than 21,500 loan agreements, and as a result companies could have saved more than 172,000 jobs and created almost 20,000 new ones: "It is important that these are not just numbers, but the welfare of hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian households, development of new businesses and the economy as a whole."

Apart from that, the First Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Economy of Ukraine announced a positive trend of increasing official employment in the first half of this year by employment centers. In particular, 256,000 unemployed could find jobs, which is 16% more than last year.

"A team of like-minded people works in the Government. The Prime Minister ensures the unity of state policy. No contradictions. We are looking for ways to implement these policies, the balance between the external and internal environment. We can see the important proof in the employment performance," Oleksiy Lyubchenko stressed.