During his official visit to Malaysia President Petro Poroshenko met with representatives of Malaysian business. The President noted that business forums allow familiarizing better with prospects and opportunities for cooperation and expressed hope that the new page will be opened in bilateral economic cooperation through joint efforts, the press-office of the Official Website of the President of Ukraine reports.
The President reminded that the first Ukrainian-Malaysian business forum was held in Kyiv in 2003. “It’s been a while, however now we have many opportunities”, Petro Poroshenko emphasized.
According to the Head of Ukrainian state, one of the purposes of his visit to Malaysia is the discussion of prospects for enhancing cooperation between countries. “Today it is a good time for Malaysian investors to come to Ukraine, where there are significant opportunities in different economy sectors”, he emphasized. In particular, the most promising are agriculture, information technologies, space and aviation, military-industrial complex, high technology production. “We plan a large-scale privatization of state enterprises on the transparent and competitive basis and reform of corporate governance”, - the President emphasized, noting that the list of these objects, in particular, includes energy companies, ports and chemical enterprises, railway, transport and aviation companies etc.
The President familiarized the representatives of the Malaysian business with the strategy of reforming Ukraine, in particular, with the first results of reforms: rehabilitation of macroeconomic stability, sanitation of the banking system, progress in implementation of deregulation reform, reduction of the number of taxes and dues, the reduction of the number of scheduled and unscheduled inspections of the State Tax Service. Since 2012 Ukraine has improved its business conduct rating, moving up by 56 positions. “The agreement between Ukraine and EU about free trade area opens huge opportunities for investors, and we would like to invite you to use them. Ukraine could become the gates for Malaysian business on EU market”, the President emphasized.
According to the President, Malaysia, in its turn, can become gates for Ukrainian business in their region.
Petro Poroshenko emphasized: “There is a Malaysian proverb: Bow the bamboo, while it is still a green growing sprout”. Ukraine is also a “sprout”. And today is the day when we need to invest in Ukraine”.
The President also expressed interest in gaining experience of Malaysian companies in advanced innovations and expressed hope that in the nearest future the Ukrainian-Malaysian Trade Committee will start operating. “This will give a huge impulse for our bilateral trade and economic relationships”, Petro Poroshenko noted, reminding that last year Malaysia ranked 10th among trade partners of Ukraine in Asian-Pacific region.
“Today we have a good starting position in order to use the whole potential of our economic relations. We are interested in lengthy and fruitful cooperation with Malaysia”, the President emphasized. Malaysia may become one of top three Ukrainian trade partners in Asia-Pacific region, the President assures.
