U.S., Germany, France ready to help Ukraine develop agriculture sector
KYIV. April 15 (Interfax) - U.S., German and French ambassadors said their countries were ready to help Ukraine in developing its agriculture sector.
Ukraine is forced to protect itself from many external threats. The country has been abandoned by the previous authorities, so removing the corruption has become the main priority, German Ambassador Christof Weil said during a meeting with Ukrainian Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Ihor Shvayka in Kyiv on Tuesday.
The new Ukrainian government will be successful in carrying out important reforms amid support from the West, Weil said.
Foreign investment in Ukraine will surely grow and Ukraine is taking steps along this path to the free trade zone with the European Union, and, developing agriculture is namely such a step, Weil said.
Fifty companies are ready to assist with agriculture chemicals and machinery in various sectors and all these companies know the Ukrainian market and its demands and they are ready to stay here and to expand their work, Weil said.
The United States is also Ukraine's partner in this regard, U.S. Ambassador Jeffrey Payette, who attended the meeting as well, said.
The U.S. is ready to help if Ukraine chooses the right strategies. The Unites States will support Ukraine's efforts to develop democracy in the country - this will stimulate domestic and foreign investments, Payette said.
France is ready to assist Ukraine in agriculture development, French Ambassador Alan Remy said. In particular, France is ready to help with expertise of key issues in land markets, phytosanitary issues and a number of other directions, he said.
France is also ready to help in training farmers and these are just several examples of topics where Paris can share its experience with Kyiv, Remy said. This is being done for many years already and France is ready to enhance this cooperation, the ambassador said.