OREANDA-NEWS. September 22, 2009. Ukraine has to intensify transit capacities of ports and return the fame of a maritime state. The Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Tymoshenko announced during the roundtable with heads of ports, representatives of branch trade unions, executive authorities and scientists dedicated to the issues of functioning and development of maritime economy of Ukraine underway in Odesa.

The Premier noted that current flaws included that mechanisms of drawing of credit resources for development of sea and river ports under the state guarantees were used not in full and activity in free access of investors was unsatisfactory. At this, the Head of Government emphasized the country has to invest the part of funds into the projects directed to the development of ports and to facilitate drawing of long-term credits for 15-20 years. According to the Premier, a respective article is envisaged both in the state budget of the current year and also in the draft state budget for 2010. Yulia Tymoshenko emphasized many of the branches have used this mechanism, however, unfortunately, perspective investment projects for port economy are absent for now. “We have to build a suitable concept of cooperation among the ports, profile ministry and investors,” the Head of Government emphasized.

During the roundtable Yulia Tymoshenko also informed that the Gov’t would address the Parliament with a request to support in whole approved in the first reading draft law containing enlargement of territories of ports. In addition, she suggested for the representatives of sea economy to elaborate an effective system of navigation safety and rescue at sea.