OECD launches program for Ukraine as part of initial accession dialogue

MOSCOW. June 7 (Interfax) - The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has launched a program for Ukraine as part of the initial dialogue on Ukraine's accession to the organization, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmygal said.

"We are consistently moving toward accession to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Today, together with OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann, and UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, we launched the OECD Program for Ukraine as part of the initial dialogue on Ukraine's accession to the organization. The program will support reforms, reconstruction and recovery in Ukraine, and its implementation will pave the way for the roadmap for membership in the 'successful countries' club'," Ukrainian media outlets quoted Shmygal as saying in a social media post.

Over the past six months, the Ukrainian authorities have made significant progress in deepening their cooperation with the OECD, he said.

"In February, Ukraine joined the OECD Working Group, and the OECD-Ukraine Liaison Office was opened in Kyiv in March. We expect to join the OECD as a full-fledged member in the foreseeable future. This will mean new investment projects, new foreign companies on the Ukrainian market and better standards of living," Shmygal said.

The prime minister also said he is confident that productive cooperation between Ukraine and the OECD will make a significant contribution to the country's transformation.