PM Shmyhal: Large-scale privatization to start in Ukraine on Sept 1

MOSCOW. Aug 4 (Interfax) - A large-scale privatization campaign is due to start in Ukraine on September 1, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said.

"The president of Ukraine has set the objective of launching privatization in September. To this end, the Verkhovna Rada has passed relevant legislation, the government has drafted all regulatory acts. We must make this process as prompt as possible," the Ukrainian media quoted Shmyhal as saying in a statement circulated by the government's press service following a conference call with the heads of the country's regions.

At the same time, the government is launching grant programs in order to encourage businesses and people to create as many jobs as possible, he said.

"A small-scape privatization campaign, especially in regions where people in villages and small towns know facilities that have been idle for years and have been used inefficiently, is meant to give an opportunity to buy these facilities at a fair price and to start working," the prime minister said.

Privatization will also help broaden production capacity for farmers, he said.

The Economy Ministry has reported that auctions for grain silos and bread enterprises will be announced at the beginning of September, in accordance with the schedule. Market operators, seeing a deficit of capacity, will be able to take part in these auctions," Shmyhal said.