05 June 2015 Federation of Employers of Ukraine. AMU

Dmitry Firtash: We Have To Drop War Policy

Ukraine will receive political and economic support of European countries when drops the war policy. This was stated by Dmitry Firtash, the President of the Federation of Employers of Ukraine, in comments to Ukrainian journalists.

“We are knocking on Europe's door, talking about attracting investment, but we are often told: wait, wait. So, in my opinion, we need to remove the conflict, we need to stop talking about the war. While there is a rhetoric of war, there will be no investments”, said Dmitry Firtash. According to him, today the Agency for the Modernization of Ukraine created upon the initiative of the trade unions and FEU was elaborating the Ukraine development plan for 20 years. “The Agency calls the Poles, Britons, Germans, Frenchmen, not because Ukrainians do not know what to do or cannot do it. No, we want to create a common vision with Europe of the situation in Ukraine after 20 years. When the modernization program is developed, it will be presented for discussion by politicians, trade unions and businessmen in Ukraine and Europe. And then it will be possible to attract investment for its implementation. If this program is adopted by Ukraine, the war will be over and peace will be restored”, said Dmitry Firtash.  

The FEU President noted that it was planned to raise about USD300 billion of investment under the Ukraine modernization program. “The situation in which Ukraine exists, and the policy pursued by the government, shuts down money flow into the country. It is clear that Ukraine is a quite attractive country and a quite large and interesting market for investors. Instead of supplying weapons to Ukraine and fight, it is better to invest money into Ukraine and build a business. Foreign businessmen hear us, understand, and they agree with us. They are willing to talk about it”, said the FEU President.  

Dmitry Firtash noted that the current state of the economy depends on the environment for business operating. “Unfortunately, the government makes enemies out of business, people who create jobs. In fact, the business should be supported and helped. Instead some war, trials are started against them. For us, as a business, it is becoming clear that the government is not able to carry out reforms; it is pointless to expect the results from them. And as a business, we believe that we must take the initiative and make a decision about how to solve the situation in Ukraine. You see what is happening with the economy. Small and medium-sized businesses are simply broken – they cannot work under these conditions. The same situation is with the big business. The situation is quite complicated. The Fiscal Service is working hard enough and, instead of helping, it obstructs and destroys business, creates new problems”, said the FEU President.

NOTE

The Federation of Employers of Ukraine unites 8,500 companies generating about 70% of GDP and employs 5 million of people. The Agency for the Modernization of Ukraine was created upon the initiative of the FEU and largest trade unions. The Agency was founded by Mr. Karl-Georg Wellmann, Head of the German-Ukrainian Parliamentary group, a Bundestag Member; Lord Risby, British MP; and Mr. Bernard-Henry Lévy, French public activist, writer and philosopher. Seven working groups led by European politicians and scientists were created within the AMU. By the end of September, the AMU will present the Ukraine modernization plan. Detailed information is available on the page.