For the first time in the history of independent Ukraine, the average salary makes up $550 - it has grown by over 19% during the year, announced Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal during a regular session of the Government on December 29.

Denys Shmyhal stressed that economic growth and increasing incomes of citizens against the background of the coronavirus-inflicted crisis had been a particularly important objective this year.

"We are winding up the year of 2021 with a record dollar GDP. Almost $200 billion. This year, foreign investment will be a record for the last 5 years and will amount to, according to the National Bank of Ukraine, about $6.5 billion," said the Prime Minister.

Among the successful initiatives that the country has managed to implement in the economic sphere, the Prime Minister highlighted the introduction of state support for large investment projects.

"More than 25 investors have already applied to UkraineInvest with investment projects worth about $2 billion. This is a good start, and next year we will see the effect of these resources on the economy of our State," stressed Denys Shmyhal.

The Prime Minister also noted that the hryvnia remained stable while the budget had a sufficient amount of funds to finance all expenditures.

"The performance of the state budget in January-November this year made up 104%. This is by UAH 47 billion more than expected, and these funds were used to support citizens, the economy and the defense sector," said the Prime Minister.

Denys Shmyhal added that due to a balanced and effective debt and budget policy, the state budget deficit for 11 months amounted to only 1.4% of GDP.