Macro-financial stabilization<\/b><\/p>\n
While Ukraine is pending IMF\u2019s decision on the renewal of funding (Ukraine expects to receive about $1.7 billion, which is scheduled to be approved by the IMF, most likely in July 2016), other institutional investors motivate governmental action for reform. The US Agency for International Development (USAID) announced the allocation of additional funding towards the innovation of the energy sector, judicial sector, and decentralization of government. <\/span>\u00a0In total, the funds allocated for these three areas should be $142 million<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n The big businesses is equally important for Ukraine, and large investments suggest things are moving in the right direction. <\/span>The<\/span> company Bunge, Ltd launched a production and handling terminal at the Mykolayiv seaport<\/span><\/a>. Investments in the project amounted to $180 million, which is one of the largest investments in the Ukrainian agribusiness. This terminal can provide additional inflow of revenue in hard currency up to approximately $360 million.<\/span><\/p>\n Meanwhile, Ukraine receives support from European partners. <\/span>In particular, the German International Cooperation (GIZ) will finance the project “Integrated City Development in Ukraine.”<\/span><\/a> \u00a0The project covers four cities (Vinnytsya, Zhytomyr, Poltava and Chernivtsi) and is intended to provide the communities with a detailed development plan, taking into account the latest trends in urban planning and infrastructure development, not the least – job creation. The total amount of the project is \u20ac 5.85 million. <\/span><\/p>\n Public procurement reform<\/b><\/p>\n While ideologues and supporters of the public procurement system ProZorro actively prepare managers of budgetary funds to work in new conditions, and sometimes have to combat resistance to reform measures (from August 1 \u00a0all purchases at the expense of state and local budgets will go through ProZorro), the popularity of ProZorro brand grows internationally. <\/span><\/p>\n Moldova volunteered to join ProZorro\u2019s experience<\/span><\/a>. The country also intends to join the \u00a0WTO Agreement on Government Procurement (WTO GPA), which means additional opportunities for Ukrainian manufacturers. <\/span><\/p>\n Moreover, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) recognized ProZorro\u2019s status as a recommended model of public procurement reform, as stated in the <\/span>Guide to Electronic Procurement Reform<\/span><\/a> (p.77) <\/span><\/p>\n Both public procurement and the National Bank\u2019s work for currency liberalization were among the main positive drivers in expert assessments of the progress in reforms.<\/span><\/p>\n Details – iMoRe research <\/span>http:\/\/bit.ly\/1QbV4oM<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Financial sector reform<\/b><\/p>\n Common sense prevailed over populist slogans: mechanisms for financial restructuring have finally appeared in Ukraine. Therefore, borrowers who are unable to pay loans in foreign currency due to its rapid rising in 2014-2015, now have a mechanism in order to pay creditors. Banks, in-turn, will be able to “cleanse” their balance of bad loans, likely resulting in the recovery of banking system.<\/span><\/p>\n Financial restructuring is voluntary and, among other things, provides for the revision of the loan period, charge for credit, and revision of other conditions. It will be valid for three years. The law also establishes a clear mechanism for monitoring the transparency of these procedures. <\/span><\/p>\n The official position of the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine <\/span>http:\/\/bit.ly\/261yypX<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n The official position of the National Bank of Ukraine <\/span>http:\/\/bit.ly\/1USUAm8<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n The NBU will receive another advantage through the introduction of further currency liberalization. The National Bank lifted a ban on transferring dividends accrued to foreign investors abroad. Currently, it is a question of dividends accrued over 2014-2015. But then the timeframe is supposed to be extended. Although profits and therefore dividends were rather isolated phenomena during those years, \u00a0the measure taken by the NBU is a positive sign in itself. It not only demonstrates to investors that the country\u2019s economy is gradually recovering, but also clarifies that the government is trying to restore confidence as the key to further growth.<\/span><\/p>\n The NBU is consistently implementing the declared policy of gradual currency liberalization. Previously, it has loosened requirements to “the compulsory sale of currency proceeds (from 75% \u00a0down to 65%) and has simplified rules for the purchase of foreign currency.<\/span><\/p>\n Anti-corruption reform<\/b><\/p>\n The absolute leader in resonance. Deals with gas, famous names, blocking the work of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau staff, these headlines hit the headlines and TV news. In the public spotlight, the NABU focused on exposing the gas schemes and sugar deals of \u201cthe Agrarian Fund.”<\/span><\/p>\n On the gas deals \u2013 see more in <\/span>weekly \u201cEnergy Reforms\u201d<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n \u201cSugar races\u201d in chronicle from NABU <\/span>https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nabu.gov.ua\/posts\/1766357490276596<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nabu.gov.ua\/photos\/a.1640620116183668.1073741829.1612729822306031\/1766577926921219\/?type=3&theater<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n While the NABU becomes more active in exposing corrupt officials, the National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption (NAPC) prepares for the active phase of its work: on July 1, the law on budget financing of parties will enter into force. Under this law “political parties shall report on their incomes and expenses. This practice is a key technical tool to combat political corruption. The available report form includes 70 pages. Currently, it is subject to registration by the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine. At the same time the NAPC together with MPs test the mechanism of electronic declaration. It will work on August 15, and will compel employees of the 1<\/span>st<\/span>, 2<\/span>nd<\/span> and 3<\/span>rd<\/span> categories (high-ranking officials, heads of departments, etc.) to submit these declarations.<\/span><\/p>\n How will the NAPC use best practices in their work – discussion <\/span>http:\/\/bit.ly\/1W3SNNB<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n How do MPS learn to submit electronic declarations <\/span>http:\/\/bit.ly\/1Yx7I3z<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Deregulation<\/b><\/p>\n Unfortunately, the simplification went badly last week. During the week, Parliament worked with a very low efficiency coefficient. MPs cared more for football battles more than for the affairs of taxpayers. There was a shortage of votes to abolish import and export licensing of alcohol and tobacco. The Ministry of Economy and Development estimates that the state budget expenditures on wages for people who process packages of documents submitted to obtain licenses exceed the revenues from licenses, as such, by 26.000 UAH. A license costs 780 UAH.<\/span><\/p>\n Read more about the content and course of the legislative process of cancellation of licenses on <\/span>http:\/\/bit.ly\/24W7XoH<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n How did Parliament vote on economic reform draft laws last week \u00a0<\/span>http:\/\/bit.ly\/1UnuyHH<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Energy sector reform <\/b><\/p>\n Islands of positive things in stagnant water. \u00a0It is briefly about the actions of those involved in the energy sector reform. The Parliament voted down the adoption of two fundamental laws \u2013 on the electric power market and on the independent regulator.<\/span><\/p>\n As for the positive things, noteworthy are the NKREKP\u2019s approval of some investment programs aimed at bringing energy consumption metering up to 100%, and the official introduction of national standards for energy audits. \u00a0This allegedly boring formulation actually conceals very important actions in terms of the energy efficiency reform implementation. Read more \u2013 in our \u00a0<\/span>weekly \u201c Energy Reforms<\/span><\/a>\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n As always, civil society makes its contribution. This time, with the support of the Embassy of Norway, it developed <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/a>and presented a \u201croadmap\u201d of hydropower reform<\/span>. <\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"