Ukraine counts on U.S. assistance in setting up Investment Support Office: Groysman

Friday, July 15, 2016 - 12:35 (EEST) Section: Latest news

U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce Bruce Andrews at his Thursday meeting with Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman said Washington was ready to provide full support and assistance, the press service of the Ukrainian government reported.
Ukraine is counting on the advisory assistance of the U.S. government in the creation of the Investment Support Office, which is expected to start operations at the Cabinet of Ministers shortly, Prime Minister Groysman said during the meeting with the U.S. official.
”Your experience is extremely important, while your willingness to help us will speed up the process of establishing such an office,” the press service quoted Groysman as saying.
In turn, the U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce noted that the U.S. government was ready to provide any support and assistance required through information exchange with a similar structure in the United States, the Select USA Agency.
During the talks, Groysman and Andrews also discussed a number of other issues related to the expansion of trade and economic cooperation and the operations of the American businesses in Ukraine. Groysman stressed that he planned to meet with representatives of the business community, including the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine, on a regular basis and hoped to strengthen cooperation with the business ombudsman.
Read alsoFinance Minister to submit bill on eliminating tax police ”It is important that the [U.S.] companies are successful. We will do everything to make them feel comfortable [about working in Ukraine],” Groysman said, adding that the task could be fulfilled through rapid responses to business needs and institutional changes to the business environment in Ukraine.
”The government realizes the need for changes to the administration of taxes, transparency in accounting, automatic VAT reimbursement, and minimization of the abuse of controlling agencies,” said the prime minister.
As UNIAN reported earlier, Groysman in early June visited the United States, where he held a series of meetings with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker. Both sides analyzed the depth of bilateral trade and economic relations and agreed on further cooperation. The United States has the status of being Ukraine`s strategic partner, ranking in the top 10 of the country`s biggest trade partners. However, the United States does not currently lead this list.