OREANDA-NEWS. September 28, 2010. Ukraine looks forward to facilitate cooperation with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Prime Minister of Ukraine Mykola Azarov said this today at a meeting with the EBRD delegation.

"For us, cooperation with the EBRD is perspective and as such, which can support the growth of our economy", said Mykola Azarov, adding that seven joint projects are implementing at the moment, and Ukraine hopes for the further intensification of cooperation. The Prime Minister informed that Ukraine is currently conducting a serious tax reform aimed at reducing the tax burden on business, liberalization of tax laws. The Government expects that it will boost investment and innovative development of our country.

"All recognize the stability created by the new government in the country. We also support the important and politically bold reforms that the new government began to implement", said EС Director in the EBRD Vassili Lelakis. According to him, the EBRD will continue to support reforms implementing by Ukraine. In particular, the end of this year, Ukraine and the EBRD intends to sign the agreement for the EBRD loan of 2 billion USD under the Government's sovereign guarantee for the implementation of energy projects and development of Ukraine's transport infrastructure in preparation for Euro 2012. "Generally, as the EBRD and the international financial agencies have mobilized efforts to support those steps that Ukraine carries out", he said.

The EU Director in the EBRD has stressed that the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development will continue its cooperation with Ukraine and provide full support for the reform program. "The bank has opportunity to invest in Ukraine annually about one billion. We are preparing a number of important projects that can be implemented", summed up Vassili Lelakis.