Ensuring the defense forces, guaranteeing macro-financial stability, starting the recovery of the country — the key focus in the work of the Cabinet of Ministers remains unchanged. This was emphasized by Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal in his speech before the regular government meeting.
The head of the government reminded that this week at the working level, Ukraine agreed on a new financing program with the International Monetary Fund. The amount of the program is 15.6 billion dollars. It is designed for 48 months.
“We expect that in a few weeks the Board of Directors of the IMF will finally approve the new program. This will help us attract funds from other international partners and finance all key budget expenditures for this year,” the communications department of the Cabinet Secretariat quotes Denis Shmygal as saying.
The prime minister added that this week the parliament supported the government bill, which increases budget expenditures by 537 billion hryvnias.
“These are funds for the security and defense forces. These are funds for new weapons, equipment, salaries and protection for our soldiers. This is what will make our country stronger and bring our victory closer,” Denys Shmyhal is convinced.
The government continues to accumulate resources and prepare for the implementation of the country’s recovery program.
“The other day, we presented the second report with the World Bank assessing our losses from the war and the needs for reconstruction. If as of June last year these needs amounted to 349 billion dollars, now they are already 411 billion. This amount, unfortunately, is not final, because it is impossible to estimate the destruction in the temporarily occupied territories.
Thanks to the assessment of the World Bank, we have a stable basis on which we will rely in the implementation of rapid reconstruction projects. The process has already begun, first of all, in five priority areas: energy, humanitarian demining, housing, critical and social infrastructure, business support,” the Prime Minister noted.
In a difficult economic situation, the government supports people.
“We are increasing pensions, keeping all subsidies, paying new types of benefits,” Denys Shmyhal stated.
On April 1, the special period with preferential prices for electricity was supposed to end. That is why the government decided to extend it: the mechanism of the assigned special duty will be valid until April 30 of this year. That is, the price of electricity will remain unchanged until the end of the heating season.
The second sowing campaign is underway in the country under martial law, and the government is helping farmers to successfully conduct it.
“According to preliminary estimates, we expect a harvest of 45 million tons of cereals and legumes. The wheat harvest is expected at the level of 16.6 million tons. Domestic consumption is approximately 5 million tons. That is, like last year, the country will be fully supplied with grain and food,” says the Prime Minister.
The state provides funds for starting and developing one’s own business. We are talking about non-returnable “eRobota” grants.
“Business creates jobs, pays taxes, exports products, invests its own funds, restores the economy. Almost 2.5 billion hryvnias have already been provided. Hundreds of new businesses are operating. Thousands of people got jobs. We are creating opportunities for more successful private businesses in Ukraine,” the head of government said.
At the same time, the Cabinet of Ministers continues reforms in the field of employment. The government approved the procedure for training and retraining of the unemployed.
“A career counselor will help choose a profession to which a person is inclined. The unemployed will decide for themselves where to study. We involve employers in the educational process. Thousands of people will be able to acquire skills and get a new job,” said Denis Shmyhal, commenting on the government’s decision.
The press service of the Ministry of Economy explains: “Enrollment in educational institutions and training in them, provision of a place of residence will be carried out on the basis of a certificate for training and a certificate for residence during the period of training. The unemployed can choose a place of study from the employer directly at the workplace through an individual form of study or through an internship. This will reduce the time and costs of training, promote the employment of the unemployed and their adaptation at the workplace. Employers will be able to pre-select the unemployed who have expressed a desire to undergo vocational training at the workplace or to study in a dual form, before they receive training certificates.”
Government officials approved a resolution on expanding the construction of fortifications. There is almost a billion hryvnias in the budget for the corresponding program.
“Regional military administrations are involved in the process together with the Ministry of Defense and our military. The result will be the strengthening of the defense capability and security of our country,” the Prime Minister emphasized.
The Cabinet made a decision to improve logistics with partner countries. It is about changes to the intergovernmental agreement between Ukraine and Moldova. Now Ukraine will have a direct rail freight connection with the port “Reni” through the territory of Moldova. In this way, the potential of the Danube ports will be used to the maximum. Ukrainian ports on the Danube have already increased cargo turnover by 3.5 times, and this is not the end. Therefore, the government expands them.
And for the systematic modernization of border checkpoints, the Cabinet of Ministers transfers their construction and repair to the sphere of responsibility of the Ministry of Infrastructure. The State Recovery Agency has been identified as responsible for updating the road checkpoints. Denys Shmyhal says that more than half need additions or reconstruction. And the new border infrastructure is comfort for people, business and the realization of Ukraine’s European integration ambitions.
