Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine held a meeting on 10 September discussing the issues of infrastructure projects and coordination of international donors.
The meeting was attended by Minister of Infrastructure Volodymyr Omelian, EU Mission in Ukraine Chief Hugues Mingarelli, Ukraine MPs, ambassadors, managers of international financial institutions, public companies, etc.
The topics were implementation of National Transport Strategy of Ukraine 2030, transport sector reforms realisation and the modern infrastructure development initiatives securing; investment priorities in respect of the country’s strategic goals; Strategy and Investment Plan of activities for further development of Ukraine’s infrastructure etc.
Upon closing of the event, Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine Volodymyr Omelian and EU Mission Chief Hugues Mingarelli rendered a joint briefing for media.
“We are holding a great coordination meeting with our international partners. I’d like to gratify EU Delegation in Ukraine for its huge support of our reform program, including National Transport Strategy of Ukraine 2030”, noted head of the ministry at the beginning. He further mentioned that Ukraine had already accomplished a number of important steps backed by European partners, in particular, IMO member’s audit successfully passed by the state, and its Marine Administration established. MIU had also submitted seven draft laws in the parliament to support implementing the EU AA.
“We also move fast towards the concession reform. The private investors involvement is the core of infrastructure objects rapid modernisation. We do have already the Motor Road Concession Law adopted by the parliament. At the same time, the bill on concession in general is still waiting for its final approval. With the help of international partners we prepare pre-feasibility studies for concession of the state’s major stevedoring companies, airports, railway stations and roads. We anticipate the concession tenders for the ports Olvia and Kherson starting as soon as this year”, stated Mr Omelian, “The public administration reform is the Government’s essential priority. I am pleased to have established already 3 directorates. By the end of the year Ministry intends to complete the public administration reform and found 7 more chief directorates.”
Volodymyr Omelian particularly stressed the MIU’s priority projects in the course of realisation of National Transport Strategy of Ukraine till 2030. According to Minister of Infrastructure, the competitive and efficient transport system is of paramount priority. It envisages a number of measures to enhance the executive powers’ institutional capability in the transport field, namely adoption of fundamental legal acts anticipated by the AA, acceptance of the updated draft National Transport Strategy of Ukraine till 2038, Air Transport Strategy of Ukraine till 2030, Strategy of Inland Water Transport Development.
“Priority 2 is innovative development of the transport sector and global investment ventures. This purports significant modernisation of the existing and construction of new objects of transport and logistics infrastructure. In particular, Euro rails of the Ukrainian segment of the Pan-European railway communications from Polish to Romanian borders through Lviv – Ivano-Frankivsk – Chornivtsi to link up main TEN-T corridors of the EU; trains motion rate amplification, first of all in the directions of international transport corridors and thoroughfares connecting Ukraine’s largest cities”, announced Mr Omelian.
In respect of the maritime sector, Ministry’s concern is focused on building of Marine Administration with strengthening of its operational capability, development of the sea port Yuzhny, Mykolaiv sea port and other ports of Ukraine.
“As for the river transport, we focus our efforts on safe operation of inland waterways and navigation locks of Ukraine, including the locks’ urgent repairs followed by installing of navigational aids to secure the guaranteed depth and safety of shipping”, the head of the ministry advised.
Volodymyr Omelian noted that the international trade development gives Ukraine an opportunity of gaining substantial profits in future, first of all it is worth to pay attention to transit transportations from the Asian region to the countries of Central and East Europe by the territory of Ukraine. Building up high efficiency logistic solutions will favour the attraction of additional transit cargo flows via Ukraine’s land in the directions not only Europe – Asia, but also the Baltic Sea – Black Sea – Caspian Sea. Attraction of these flows into Ukraine requires a highly efficient container traffic system built up. Multimodal / container transportation is the modern and most economic mode of cargo delivery. Development of the relevant normative and legal base is envisaged, concerned with promotion of multimodal traffic in Ukraine.
“Ukraine should become a mighty logistic hub on the route of Europe-Asia cargo flows and take an active part in realisation of the Chinese initiative One Belt One Road, the trade ways of which are to stretch out through Central Asia, Belarus and Ukraine and further on to the countries of Europe”, declared Volodymyr Omelian.
Head of EU office in Ukraine Hugues Mingarelly observed: “It is great honour for the EU to be involved in the National Strategy Plan 2030 Agenda consideration. Among the goals of the Ukraine – EU Association Agreement is development of economical and commercial links between Ukraine and the EU. And in order to successfully implement this, we need to eliminate every bottleneck in the transport field. That’s why we support Mr Omelian and his team in the two ranges: first – regulatory environment improvement, second – infrastructure network modernisation. It is necessary to do this in the road, railway, aviation, maritime and inland water sectors.”
“With regard to the normative and legal base, our main task is to harmonize Ukrainian legislation with that of the EU. And we are going to work not only with Ministry, but also involve the Verkhovna Rada (parliament) Transport Committee into cooperation.”
“As for the infrastructure network modernisation, we intend to bring necessary funding. On the EU’s part, we shall totally mobilize EIB being our financial instrument, as well as any other potentiality on the EU’s investment plan. Besides the economical reasons, we do it due to many other ones. First, the road safety enhancement in Ukraine, where many do regretfully lose their lives on the motorways. Also, we do it on the ecological reasons. Thanks to modernisation and environmental improvement of various modes of transport, we would be able to jointly withstand the climate changes and air pollution”, underlined the head of EU Delegation.
https://mtu.gov.ua/news/30142.html