OREANDA-NEWS. October 02, 2008. Direct US investments in the Ukrainian economy reached USD 1.4 billion in the first half of 2008, Ukrainian Economy Minister Bohdan Danylyshyn told the first meeting of the Ukrainian - US council for trade and investments.

He said Ukraine - US trade has a rather dynamic development. Particularly, in 2007 compared to 2006 the total volume of trade between Ukraine and the Unites States rose by 22.4% to reach USD 3.3 billion.

The same tendency is observed in 2008, the minister says. Particularly, trade turnover in the first seven months of the year doubled to USD 2.7 billion on the like 2007 period. Danylyshyn added that Ukraine maintains macroeconomic parameters at a due level, thanks to which the national economy has a rather high capacity potential.

In his turn, a US deputy trade commissioner said the average annual bilateral trade makes about USD 1 billion per each party, noting it is not much and voicing hope for increase.

The Ukraine - US council for trade and investments was set up for implementation of provisions of the agreement on trade and investment cooperation between the governments of Ukraine and the US, which took effect on June 3, 2008.