OREANDA-NEWS. June 21, 2013. The Government does not plan to increase taxes. Prime Minister Mykola Azarov assured representatives of French business he met with in Paris, as was informed by him to journalists in the aftermath.

In particular, at a briefing for media Mykola Azarov declared:

“I have just had a meeting with representatives of the most powerful French companies that are working or wish to work in Ukraine. I have heard a lot of interesting propositions for me. In turn, I proposed them a lot: told about main directions of the State Program of activization of the economic development and suggested to participate in the program. To my mind, there were asked very interesting questions joined to partnership between the state and private structures. Business wants to invest their money in Ukraine. But they wish to have the state support at this and participation of the state in various projects. Also it concerned construction of a pharmaceutical enterprise, concessionary roads and other projects.

Peculiar interest is raised by our agriculture, opportunities of our agrarian complex.

If to sum up our joint talk, in whole they evaluated positively the changes carried out in the regime of administrative supervision of business and tax area, from the point of view of tax legislation. They were interested in one thing, to a large extent: it is the guarantee that Ukraine will further the line carried out in the recent three years. And my function was in conveying them our firmness, that the Government will not change the direction. In particular, it concerned whether the Government of Ukraine will raise taxes. I answered unambiguously: “It will not”. It can refer only to strong alcohol beverages, tobacco, perhaps, certain luxury items. But in whole the line of the Government towards lowering of taxation, creating of favourable conditions for business will be prolonged. In fact, it is what was desired to hear from the Prime Minister.

I must admit, France is a very rich country, highly developed, to a certain extent post-industrial state, cooperation with which gives an opportunity for our state to develop at a faster pace.

We are interested in cooperation between highly industrial branches of Ukraine and France. Not by accident representatives of the Aerobus company raised issues of cooperation with our aircraft building corporation. I consider such cooperation very interesting. 

They highly evaluated the demonstration flight of our AN-70 and AN-158 planes, they were keenly interested in our plans concerning the development of this line of AN planes.”

At this, Mykola Azarov underlined that the trip was very interesting, useful and effective.

He expressed assurance that the contacts existing with French business would further be developing.