Cabinet improves international technical assistance planning, use

With the aim of improving cooperation with international organizations, the government has approved the draft law "On international technical assistance," which was developed by the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, the Information-Analytical Bulletin of the Cabinet of Ministers informs.

The bill was drafted in accordance with the Program of Economic Reforms for 2010-2014 "Prosperous Society, Competitive Economy, Effective State," approved by President Viktor Yanukovych. The latest revisions take into account consultations with donors and officials in central bodies of executive power.

According to Ministry of Economic Development, the main purpose of the document is to build a unified state system of planning, recruitment, deployment and monitoring of International Technical Assistance (ITA), which is received by Ukraine in accordance with international agreements.

Approval of the bill will help generate clear and transparent procedures related to cooperation between Ukraine and international financial organizations. Government experts say the new legal provisions will help strengthen the role of the Ukrainian side in project preparation, improve efficiency of their implementation, introduce mechanisms to coordinate objectives and goals of these projects in accordance with the state and regional development priorities.

ITA has been provided to Ukraine on a free and irrevocable basis by donor countries and international organizations in almost all sectors of the economy and social life since 1992. Cooperation in this area is supported by 15 countries, the European Union and over 20 international organizations (UN, World Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development). The Ukraine's largest donors are the United States and the EU.

Ukraine in 2013 plans to receive ITA for 539.56 million USD, some 54 million USD more than in 2012 (485.21 million U.S. dollars).

As of May 1, 2013, Ukraine was implementing 249 ICC projects for the total contract value over 3 billion USD. Since 1996, Ukraine has registered 2830 ITA projects. To date, donors have committed for these projects over 8 billion USD.

The main areas in which Ukraine receives technical assistance are: improving nuclear safety, environment protection, improvement of regulatory policy, improvement of investment climate, development of entrepreneurship and competition on the domestic market, modernization of municipal infrastructure and transport, development of financial market, agriculture, science, health, culture and tourism, as well as civil society and local government, ensuring the rule of law, anti-corruption, media support.