OREANDA-NEWS. February 17, 2011. Chaired by President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych, an expanded meeting of the Kharkiv Regional Committee on Economic Reforms was held.

At the beginning of the meeting, on the occasion of the Day to Honor Ukrainian Soldiers-Participants of Military Operations Abroad, Viktor Yanukovych presented state decorations to veterans of the war in Afghanistan.

Opening the meeting of the Kharkiv Regional Committee on Economic Reforms, the President said that one of the main purposes of his visit to Kharkiv is to discuss the reforming of airspace industry, for which the region is widely known. "Just as many other areas, our aerospace industry needs modernization and reform," he said.

It is necessary to decide, how to rebuild this industry and make it a truly global leader, he said. "It is important that we have created conditions for the next generation of builders of satellites, spacecraft, missiles, rockets... We will now dedicate more attention to this issue. We must have our own advanced missile system, and we will have it," President Yanukovych added.

"The solution of many problems is associated with the innovative development of our country," he said. Creating conditions for implementing innovative projects, increasing technological cycles of processing various raw materials, which Ukraine has, expanding domestic consumption through the development of engineering sector are the main objectives of the present, Viktor Yanukovych said.

The current government, he said, considers investment development the priority in the state. "If there are investment programs and modernization going on, we will be strengthening our competitiveness ... The share of production will increase, so will improve the financial performance," Viktor Yanukovych said.

He also expressed confidence that Ukraine will improve the current rates of GDP and in the near future will be able to increase it by a minimum of 100 billion UAH yearly, so that in 2012 "we could achieve 1.3 trillion UAH."

According to the President, 2011 "will be a very difficult year for the society", particularly due to the fact that the state has public debts to return. "We have to return about 80 billion UAH of debts this year," the President said.

Viktor Yanukovych also told the present about the continuation of reforms in Ukraine. By the end of 2011, he said, they will be started in 21 areas. "Only a comprehensive approach can give tangible results," he said.

President Yanukovych stressed that no region of the country must stand aside. "I look forward to Kharkiv setting the tone for the whole country," he said.