As a basis of the draft 2017
Budget it was laid the philosophy that Ukraine must stop being provider of raw
materials for other countries, its economy must develop, produce competitive
goods and contribute to improving the quality of lives of Ukrainian citizens.
Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman said during
consideration of the draft Law on the State budget of Ukraine for 2017 in the
first reading at the Verkhovna Radaof Ukraine on Thursday.
"I want us to cease being
mere supplier of raw materials for the economies of other countries, it is
vital to ensure production of national product that will be competitive and
will provide Ukrainians with decent jobs. All these constitute the philosophy
of this Budget", explained Volodymyr Groysman.
The Head of Government
stressed that for decades Ukraine had been stagnant.
According to him, the
reason is that at the proper time there weren’t implemented necessary reforms,
there weren’t built systems providing an opportunity for people to receive decent
pensions, decent wages, there weren’t created conditions for investment in the
economy, opportunities for the development of communities. Ukraine demonstrated
decay along numerous showings.
As a result, the country was
transformed into a mere supplier of raw materials for the neighboring country
and was not ready for the challenges, which it subsequently faced, and
temporarily lost part of its territories and traditional markets, he said.
"Today we have a chance –
this chance is that we must develop the national economy, while the benefits
the national economy produces permanently invest in the quality of lives of
Ukrainian citizens", he stressed.
The Prime Minister reminded
that the Government had timely submitted to Parliament a draft Budget.
The draft Budget is fair, well
balanced, real, and contains a number of important priorities, in particular:
- Fund the national
security and defense. In this regard, the Prime Minister said that he agreed
with the necessity to improve control over the use of these resources and urged
the MPs to ensure effectiveness and openness of this process;
- Preserve a system of
financial decentralization. Volodymyr Groysman noted that there
hadn’t been decentralization back in 2006-2013. The central government
shamelessly tried to usurp power. Instead, in the last year local budgets grew
by UAH 34 billion;
- Prolong large-scale
reforms in the road sector. The Government envisaged allocation of a twofold
resource in the construction of Ukrainian roads;
- Prolong energy
efficiency. The Energy Efficiency Fund can raise from UAH 3.5 to 4
billion. Separately, the sum worth $ 2 billion has been invested in a variety
of programs in energy efficiency that is currently used, plus at the stage of
disbursement - UAH 50 billion. Using the resource of the State Regional
Development Fund, this sum can reach UAH 60 billion, noted Volodymyr Groysman;
- Reform of the education
area. It is envisaged a 30% increase of teachers' wages;
- Improve social
standards by another 10% in addition to a 10% increase planned from December 1;
- Budget resource to
ensure 100% provision of citizens with medicines, and raise salaries for
doctors by 20%; and other priorities.
"I have a good
announcement: this is just the beginning", said the Head of Government.
"It's not Groysman’s Budget
for 2017, it is the Budget of our great European country", stressed the
Prime Minister.
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