Ukrainian Minister of Finance: Privatization and creation of anti-corruption court are IMF’s conditions for next tranche
Ukraine has come close to implementing the recommendations of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in order to receive the next tranche as part of the Extended Fund Facility (EFF), and so there is reason to expect that it will be allocated by the end of the year, said Ukrainian Finance Minister Oleksandr Danylyuk.
“I consider it realistic that we will receive the tranche this year,” the head of the Finance Ministry said during a panel discussion at the Atlantic Council’s analytic center in Washington on Friday, October 13, the Zerkalo Nedeli (Mirror Weekly) writes.
Danylyuk mentioned that the pension reform which the IMF insisted on has already come into force.
The minister said that the next step would be to simplify the privatization process. The corresponding draft law has already been ratified by the relevant committee, and is ready to be introduced in the session hall of parliament.
“We expect it to be approved during the first reading next week,” Danylyuk observed.
The Ukrainian finance minister said that the third important step would be the creation of an anti-corruption court.
The finance minister categorically denied the claims that Kyiv wants to end its collaboration with the IMF.
“The IMF is a strong signal for attracting investments, both direct and debt,” Danylyuk added.
Earlier, Ukraine pledged to the IMF that it would implement the market mechanism for determining the price of gas. However, contrary to its agreement with the fund, the government refused to increase the price as of October 1.