Multi-agency Donor Coordination Platform steering committee meets in Kiev

MOSCOW. April 10 (Interfax) - The Multi-agency Donor Coordination Platform steering committee has met in Kiev, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmygal said.

"A meeting of the Multi-agency Donor Coordination Platform steering committee took place in Kiev for the first time in a live format," Ukrainian media quoted him as saying on social networks.

Shmygal focused on the platform's strategic objectives, among which is the projected budgetary support. "In March, we received $9 billion in foreign funding. However, the external budget support in the second half of this year and next year remains the main challenge," he said.

It is also important to build a solid foundation for economic sustainability, which will help reduce the budget deficit, Shmygal said.

"With limited resources, the government should focus on urgent needs to build a sustainable economy and unblock economic growth," Shmygal added.

The platform's operations need to be stepped up, he said. "To hold higher format meetings twice a year to address priority issues, sum up the results and make strategic planning. We have suggested that the platform's technical Secretariat work directly in Kiev. This will ensure quality sectoral coordination and achieve the set goals to help Ukraine withstand in economic terms and promote conditions for economic development," he said.