OREANDA-NEWS. August 30, 2010. President Viktor Yanukovych has conducted a meeting of the Committee on Economic Reforms. In his opening remarks, President Yanukovych reminded that previous meeting of the Committee had approved the Program of Economic Reforms. "We approved the timetable of reforms including the creation of new legislation, needed to reform the country's economy," said Viktor Yanukovych.

He expressed certainty that the government must focus on realization of projects that can qualitatively change the image of Ukraine, open new prospects, and are decisive for economic security and humanitarian development.

"These projects will have the status of national and every one of them will be brought to a successful conclusion," Viktor Yanukovych stressed.

The President outlined national priorities, which these projects will be realizing. These were new energy policy, new quality of life, quality health care, transition to international standards of education, solution of environmental problems, etc.

Among these priorities President Yanukovych also named the development of infrastructure. "We must restore the role of Ukraine in transportation after it has largely faded in recent years in favor of our neighbors,” he said.

According to the Head of State, consideration of the Olympic Hope 2022 project is very important and the experience we got from preparation to Euro 2012 may be useful in its implementation. "I believe we must examine the experience and approach the Olympic Hope 2022 very seriously. Only then the hope will be real," Viktor Yanukovych said.

The President emphasized that he considers these national projects as means of practical implementation of reforms in Ukraine. "I think that they address the most pressing problems in national economy," he said, adding that their implementation mechanisms will certainly be innovative. According to Viktor Yanukovych, it is very important that instruments of state-private cooperation and investment were used in their realization, instead of budgetary funds. "I expect practical demonstration of the claim that investors’ work in Ukraine has become easier and that the state puts real meaning into the word "partner", when building its relations with them," he said.

President Yanukovych is sure that it will require new approaches to governance. In particular – the transition to project management. "Cooperation with international organizations, foreign investors, donors, private sector partners will be our permanent work," said Viktor Yanukovych. Thus, necessary organizational changes will be made in the Committee on Economic Reforms and in the work of the Government.

The President proposed to create a working group on national projects within the Committee on Economic Reforms, to elaborate specific proposals, which the Committee will consider later.

Viktor Yanukovych noted that the Government has established special agency to manage national projects, which in close cooperation with the State Agency for Investment and Development and line ministries will ensure comprehensive implementation of projects approved by the Committee.

According to the President, the first phase includes technical preparation of the projects, conducted by first-class professionals in line with world standards, including their consideration not only by the Government, but by international organizations as well.

The President highlighted the importance of active work with investors, which should include both searching for potential partners and supporting them in relations with the Ukrainian central and local authorities. "Actually, this should be representation of an investor in the system of government of Ukraine. And it is absolutely normal practice," Viktor Yanukovych added.

The President also noted the importance of monitoring and following the realization of projects. He instructed Prime Minister Mykola Azarov to personally supervise the question of national projects and report on the results of this work at every meeting of the Committee on Economic Reforms.

"The Agency on National Project Management should become a platform for collection and implementation of new initiatives and ideas, above all – those from the business environment, scientists, etc.," - he said, adding that excessive bureaucratization and overlapping of functions must be avoided in this work.

Another priority direction of reforming national economy according to the President was improving conditions for business development. It includes, first of all, the deregulation of permit system and reduction of the number of business licenses. "This problem impedes the development of entrepreneurship, and investment in Ukraine terribly. We need to think it over and make concrete steps. And we will make them," Viktor Yanukovych said.

The President reminded that the Cabinet decided to halve the number of permits. "We agreed that our goal is 10% of what it was. And we will concretize this issue soon," Viktor Yanukovych said.

"Licenses and permits should be required only for the activities associated with increased risk to life and health of people," the President said. According to him, the issue of deregulation of the permit system and reducing the number of licenses will also be the subject to consideration at the next meeting of the Committee on Economic Reforms.