Agrarian sector identified as one of priorities in Ukraine Facility program - Ukrainian Agrarian Policy and Food Ministry

MOSCOW. Aug 1 (Interfax) - The agrarian sector has been identified as one of the priorities as part of Ukraine's Plan to implement the Ukraine Facility program, for which the European Union intends to allocate about 50 billion euros, Ukrainian media reported citing the press service for the Ukrainian Agrarian Policy and Food Ministry.

"The dialogue within the working group will make it possible to identify the needs of the sector for the next four years as qualitatively as possible, as well as to prepare high-quality and realistic projects for future financing," the press service quoted Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy Markiyan Dmitrasevich as saying at the first meeting of the working group with representatives of agrarian businesses.

The priority areas of work of the Agrarian Policy Ministry as part of implementing the Ukraine Facility program include the integration of Ukrainian legislation into the requirements of the EU Common Agricultural Policy, liberalization of the land market, and the development of lending programs for agrarian enterprises.

During the discussion, business representatives addressed the issue of conditions and opportunities for financing investment projects under the Ukraine Facility program, the compliance of future legislative amendments with the current EU policies and the Association Agreement, including the adoption of technical regulations and EU standards for agricultural products.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the Kiev School of Economics and Deloitte.

As reported, the sectoral working groups with businesses aim to involve the private sector in elaborating proposals on sectoral development, which will be taken into account in drafting sectoral strategies for four and ten years.

The first phase of the project will last until the end of October 2023. At this stage, proposals will be formulated for Ukraine's Plan, which is required for implementing the European Commission's financial assistance program Ukraine Facility. The program is designed for 50 billion euros, which Ukraine will receive during 2024-2027. In the future, the working groups will focus on drawing up recommendations for the relevant ministries on sectoral development strategies for ten years.

The Ukrainian Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food is involved in the activities of the working group. The working group is coordinated by the Ukrainian Economy Ministry with the support of the Good Governance Fund "Economic Hub: Sound PFM Policies and Vision for Growth", which is being implemented with the assistance of the UK Government (UK Aid). The project is being implemented by Abt Britain and the Kiev School of Economics (KSE).