President Petro Poroshenko took part in the Ukrainian-Kazakh business forum in Astana. The Head of State invited Kazakh businessmen to work in Ukraine.

“Our today’s meeting with the President of Kazakhstan is a marvelous opportunity for the beginning of efficient interaction and cooperation between the companies of Ukraine and Kazakhstan. Winners are those who enter the promising market first,” the President said.

According to the Head of State, reforms in Ukraine are aimed to create favorable climate for businessmen and investors and bring the country closer to the EU membership. The President outlined the main reforms: judiciary, decentralization and law enforcement bodies – new police and public prosecution that will work under the new principles. The Head of State also mentioned the public sector reform. According to him, highly professional and non-corrupt bureaucrats who will effectively implement government programs should work in the public sector.

The President informed on the privatization of state-owned enterprises. He invited Kazakh investors to take part in it. “There are still more than 1800 objects owned by the state for no reason. The Government executes my instruction on the reduction of a series of attractive spheres from alcohol to seaports. We are waiting for Kazakh investors who can come and assess the attractiveness. In our turn, we will ensure transparency and efficiency,” Petro Poroshenko said.

The Head of State noted that the parties had reached an agreement on the establishment of a powerful transit network with special tariffs that will make the route “Kazakhstan – Ukraine” a basic element of the so-called “Silk Road”.

“Ukrainian technologies are competitive enough to be involved in common energy projects. It is high time to combine our efforts and start working,” the President said adding that it could be not only cooperation in various spheres, but also work of Ukrainian specialists in Kazakhstan and Kazakh specialists in Ukraine.

In his turn, the President of Kazakhstan emphasized the necessity of new impetus for the broadening of business contacts. Nursultan Nazarbayev invited Ukrainian specialists to take part in the implementation of projects in metallurgic, chemical and food industries, as well as infrastructure projects. “Kazakhstan is interested in cooperation in these spheres,” he said.

Nursultan Nazarbayev informed that he had discussed with President Poroshenko the issue of Ukrainians’ participation in EXPO-2017 on the basis of which the logistics center would be established. “Kazakhstan can become the center of supply of Ukrainian products to Asia and China,” President Nazarbayev stressed.