01 october 2015 Federation of Employers of Ukraine. AMU

European Experts Completed Development of Modernization Programme of Ukraine

 European experts of the Agency for the Modernization of Ukraine, established on the initiative of the Federation of Employers of Ukraine and trade unions, have completed work on the Modernization Programme of Ukraine. This was stated by the FEU President Dmitry Firtash.
 
“Prominent European experts, who have experience of carrying out reforms in their countries, were involved in the work on the Modernization Programme. We are very grateful to them for providing recommendations on what needs to be done in Ukraine. The participation of European experts will ensure that their proposed ideas will be supported in the West, and Ukraine will be able to attract USD300 billion of investment”, said the FEU President.
 
“The Program is available for public discussions. The Federation of Employers, Ukrainian trade unions, experts, scientists of the National Academy of Sciences work to adapt the Program for its further presentation at the Congress of the Federation of Employers of Ukraine in December, 2015”, said the FEU President. Mr. Dmitry Firtash stressed that elaborated Modernization Programme was the only real plan for the restoration and development of the country supported by both employers and trade unions, and which was perceived abroad. “We hope that the Programme will be accepted by the Ukrainian authorities, because there is no alternative today”, said Mr. Dmitry Firtash.
 
He noted that the main focus of the Programme had been placed on improving of living and social standards.
 
“By 2025, in terms of living standards Ukraine may reach the level of Eastern European countries – Hungary, Bulgaria, and the Baltic states –and compete with them in foreign investment attracting. Our goal is to double GDP per capita, the average salary should be at a level of 500 euros, and life expectancy should be increased from 70 to 74 years due to better quality of medicine, education and environment. The growth of the economy of Ukraine by 5% a year is a reality. This may become possible due to a significant increase of social standards”, said Mr. Dmitry Firtash.
 
The FEU President noted that the priority was to stop the growth of unemployment and emigration. According to experts, last year the number of jobs in Ukraine decreased by 1.5 million. The number of Ukrainians wishing to leave Ukraine forever reached 21% (8 million people).
 
 “We need to keep those jobs that we have right now and create at least 1.5-2 million jobs. People in Ukraine have to be confident that they will be able to find a decent job in Ukraine. It is important to restore people's faith in the country, believe in its future”, said Mr. Dmitry Firtash.
 
“Ukraine has to become a production site for the whole world with favorable conditions for the production and export of goods. We can take rightful place among the world's largest producers. To bring this to the table we need to offer investors such conditions that they will establish production in Ukraine. When we start developing the industry, foreign investors will also come to the country”, said the FEU President. He called the very real the growth in exports of Ukrainian goods from the current USD 54 billion per year to USD 200 billion in 2025.
 

NOTE

In March 2015, in Vienna, on the initiative of the Federation of Employers of Ukraine and the trade unions the Agency for the Modernization of Ukraine was created. The Agency has made recommendations for the development of the modernization plan of Ukraine. The development of the modernization plan is currently conducted be the FEU with the participation of trade unions, Ukrainian scientists and experts. The Modernization Programme of Ukraine is available here.