USAID ready to give Ukraine additional $142 mln in aid

Friday, June 17, 2016 - 14:32 (EEST) Section: Latest news

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is ready to give Ukraine additional $142 million in financial assistance to support energy, judicial reforms and decentralization.
Relevant agreements have been reached during a meeting of Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman with USAID Administrator Gayle Smith in Washington, D.C., held in the framework of the Prime Minister`s visit to the United States, the government`s press service reported.
”USAID will continue to help our reforms in Ukraine. We agreed on a US$142 mln aid package to foster positive changes in judicial system, energy and decentralization. Looking forward to further cooperation with the Agency. Its support enables many reforms that will ultimately improve lives of all Ukrainians,” Groysman wrote on Facebook on Friday.
The funds will be part of a larger package of financial support for the reforms announced by U.S. Vice President Joe Biden during a meeting with Prime Minister Groysman.
USAID plans to commit $60 million to support reforms in the energy sector, $50 million to carry out decentralization in Ukraine. Additionally, $22 million has been earmarked for the judicial sector reform, according to the press service. What is more, USAID is reportedly interested in bolstering the newly established Ministry of Temporarily Occupied Territories and Internally Displaced Persons.
Groysman emphasized the importance of deepening cooperation with USAID and thanked for its support. He also outlined the government`s priority tasks, which include, inter alia, anti-corruption and state governance reforms.
”Our task is to boost Ukraine`s potential as much as possible,” the prime minister said.
As UNIAN reported earlier, the White House plans to commit $220 million in new assistance to Ukraine this year in support of economic, political, and energy reforms.