Ukrainian Economy Ministry reports relocation of Ukrainian companies

KYIV. March 21 (Interfax-Ukraine) - Forty Ukrainian companies have been relocated under a government program, and another 299 will have their assets relocated in the near future, the Ukrainian Economy Ministry said.

"Forty Ukrainian enterprises have been relocated from active zones under a program of relocation of manufacturing facilities initiated by the Economy Ministry. Eighteen of these companies have resumed work at new locations," the ministry said in a statement on its website on Monday.

"The facilities of 299 other companies will be moved to new locations in the near future," it said.

The program of the relocation of Ukrainian manufacturing facilities was started a week ago. At the present time, the Economy Ministry has processed 86% of 898 applications by companies for relocation. The state is providing for the transportation of equipment and resettlement of employees.

Some of the companies have been relocated by national railway company Ukrzaliznytsia. The logistics of the program's automobile transportation component has been provided by the national postal service Ukrposhta, engaging anyone capable of transporting cargo as subcontractors, the ministry said.

"The Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers today supported a directive obliging [Ukrposhta] to transport the property of Ukrainian companies for free. To ensure the unhindered relocation of companies, Ukrposhta's automobile transport and its subcontractors will be given priority in passing through checkpoints and entitled to receive unlimited amounts of fuel at petrol stations," the ministry said.