Azarov: National economy growth in the first half of 2010

Following Ukraine's economic development in the first half of this year it was recorded growth dynamics. Prime Minister of Ukraine Mykola Azarov said this today during a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers.

"Yesterday I had a working meeting with the President of Ukraine. I reported to the Head of the State about results of the first half of 2010: they are positive, include encouraging signals," the Prime Minister underlined.

According to him, GDP growth in the first half of 2010 totals 6.3% compared to the same period 2009. It was recorded a rise in industrial output, cargo flows and for the first time for many months - a relative growth in the construction sector. As Mykola Azarov noted, after months-long reduction, trade freezing, domestic commodity turnover growth by 2.5 pc is a positive sign.

The Prime Minister also drew attention to encouraging improvements in foreign trade: "We have significant export growth and improvement of the balance of payments."

Meanwhile the PM reminded that last year Ukraine had a catastrophic fall of economic indicators, and today's positive figures show not only encouraging trend, but how much more efforts should be made to reach the pre-crisis level. This applies, above all, mining and metallurgy, mechanical engineering and construction.