Protection and support of competition at the Government level, implementation of the best standards of the European Union in Ukraine strengthen the position of national companies in foreign markets, allow them to become competitive market players and accelerate Ukraine's integration with the European environment.

This was announced by Minister of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine Olexandr Saienko speaking at the International Conference "State Assistance Reform in Ukraine", which takes place on April 11 in Kyiv.

"After 2014, amid military aggression of the Russian Federation, we faced a number of economic challenges. A completely different structure of trade required a very rapid reorientation of the economic model and the economic system of Ukraine as a whole. That is why the signing of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the European Union was of paramount importance, thereby becoming an impetus for very important structural changes in the economy", the Minister stressed.

Olexandr Saienko accentuated that critical historic decisions had been taken in recent years, in particular in the corporate governance, public procurement, reform of the state assistance system.

"Ukrainian companies should increase their competitiveness, to promote their product, services in the European market. These are completely different standards, other profitability, other requirements for the competitiveness and quality of goods of Ukrainian origin. Therefore, the reform of the state assistance system, the adaptation and harmonization with the EU standards, the implementation of directives – all these help to achieve our goals in the best possible way", said Olexandr Saienko.

He added that the European Union market is one of the largest and most competitive markets, and our presence in it is rather important for Ukrainian companies.

"Together with Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman we visit a lot of regions of Ukraine, and it is pleasant to hear when small and medium-sized enterprises tell they are working in the European market, deliver goods, have orders for years to come, expand the geography of supplies", added the Minister.

Olexandr Saienko also emphasized that honest competition is a key factor in the efficiency of the enterprise and a key factor in a market economy, but state aid should be transparent, efficient, and it is crucial to clearly understand how much assistance the state provides and what are the effect of this assistance.

"The Government, the Parliament, the Antimonopoly Committee and our European colleagues engage in a very good dialogue, and the reform of state aid is an example of when effective legislation, a timely developed regulatory framework, the involvement of the best expertise of the European Union and the efficient activity of the AMC is a guarantee of the achievement of all the tasks", summed up the Minister of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.