Kyiv, February 17, 2015 – Ukrainian authorities and the representative of the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development have announced about the creation of the Project Office for coordination development and implementation of reforms in Ukraine. Dmytro Shymkiv, Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration; Aivaras Abromavičius, Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine; Hanna Hopko, MP; and Sevki Acuner, Director of EBRD Ukraine, have signed an appropriate document during the press-briefing at Ukraine Crisis Media Center.
The decision to create the Project Office came out after intense negotiations between the Ukrainian government and EBRD that started in July 2014. The new body will coordinate and monitor the process of development and implementation of reforms, as well as ensure necessary communication between executive and legislative branches, and between the government and the civic sector. “We have received 120 applications for the post of the Project Office manager. The National Council for Reforms and EBRD will choose the most appropriate candidate on this post in the next two weeks,” Mr. Shymkiv said.
EBRD agreed to provide 1.5m euro for the Project Office for one year. Once this term expires, new negotiations will have to take place to decide whether to continue the project, depending on the success of implemented reforms. “We are happy to join the process of Ukrainian modernization and confident that the Project Office will contribute to new qualitative changes in the country,” Mr. Acuner said.
Aivaras Abromavičius, Economy Minister, emphasized that the main goal of the Project Office will be coordination of reforms initiated by civil society. “The Project Office allows to implement the ideas of the Ukrainian government, our international partners and civil society to achieve the maximum result,” Mr. Abromavičius said. He also said that it going to significantly contribute to the implementation of deregulation reforms and change of management practices at state enterprises. Mr. Abromavičius particularly highlighted the aviation industry that could give a powerful impetus to the economic development of Ukraine during the military conflict.
Furthermore, a series of negotiations between Ukrainian defense industries and Western companies are ongoing. According to Hanna Hopko, Ukraine will be able restore its military potential on both Ukrainian and international markets.
