Ukraine counts on EBRD financing for Danube projects, grant to Ukraerorukh
MOSCOW. April 24 (Interfax) - The Ukrainian Ministry of Reconstruction counts on the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to support projects to increase the capacity of the Danube ports and grant funds to the Ukrainian State Air Traffic Services Enterprise (Ukraerorukh) in order to prepare the air navigation infrastructure to resume air traffic after the crisis ends, the Ukrainian media quoted the ministry's press service as saying in a social media post.
"The Royal HaskoningDHV, an international engineering consulting company, as part of a joint pilot project of the ministry and the EBRD, has drawn up a list of measures to increase the capacity of the Danube ports, which deal with investment and operational as well as regulatory changes both in Ukraine and in Moldova and Romania," Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Reconstruction Alexander Kubrakov said at a meeting with EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso in Kiev.
He noted that the Danube cluster has become a critical part of the global food security amid the restricted operations of the Black Sea seaports, which was made possible by the operational dredging work undertaken in the ports of the Danube region in order to resume their passport features.
"We are reviving the Bystroye estuary canal as an alternative route for Ukrainian agricultural exports," the statement said.
Additionally, Ukraerorukh has recently filed a request for grant funds and a list of potential projects to be financed by the grant with the EBRD, it said. The projects concern the preparations of air navigation infrastructure for the process of resuming flights after the crisis ends.
Kubrakov emphasized that Ukraine praises the cooperation with the EBRD team and expressed his gratitude for the support. He noted that the Ministry of Reconstruction and its subordinate organizations are implementing a number of joint projects with the EBRD, in particular, the development of road facilities as part of the Development of Trans-European Transport Network. Ukraine - Road Corridors project. Moreover, among the joint projects are railway network development, including its electrification, and meeting the essential needs of the Ukrainian railway operator Ukrzaliznytsia during the crisis, as well as the development of the logistics network of the Ukrainian postal operator Ukrposhta, namely, purchase of transport vehicles, upgrades of sorting equipment, etc.
During her visit to Kiev, the EBRD president had a meeting with the management of the Finance Ministry and the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU). Finance Minister Sergei Marchenko noted Ukraine's high interest of EBRD's involvement in the early recovery process of the country, the Finance Ministry said in a statement.
In her turn, EBRD President Renaud-Basso said that this year the EBRD plans to focus on Ukraine's reconstruction in the areas of private sector support, small and medium businesses, financing of the road rehabilitation projects, support of the energy sector, cooperation with Ukrainian cities and communities.
Renaud-Basso noted that at a meeting at the NBU the progress in the financial sector's compliance with the obligations under the International Monetary Fund Extended Funding Program was discussed, and, in particular, the continuation of corporate governance reform in the state banks, as well as the status of the selection of members of the supervisory boards of the state banks was discussed in detail.