FTA with CIS gives Ukraine new possibilities for food exports - Tihipko
2012-08-29 11:39:19
Ratification of the Free Trade Area Agreement with CIS countries considerably expands Ukraine's possibilities on exports of foodstuffs.
Deputy Chairman of the Party of Regions Serhiy Tihipko has said during a visit to the Bread Baking Plant No. 11 in Kyiv.
"Free Trade Area with CIS countries is extremely important for Ukraine. In particular, for bakery producers. Primarily, for those who make long storage-life products, such as biscuits, round cracknels," Serhiy Tihipko believes. He also noted that Ukrainian food products are exported to western and CIS markets.
"The FTA with CIS is also important due to the fact that new restrictions for trade in goods will not be introduced, and in two months, we will start negotiations about abolishment of old limitations," Tihipko informs.
The politician also noted that the government prepares a set of special measures, which allow modernizing bakery enterprises and strengthening their competitiveness. Thus, according to Serhiy Tihipko, the Verkhovna Rada adopted the bills in the first reading, envisaging privileges for import of new equipment, which is not produced in Ukraine.
"This is extremely important for bread producers, because this production is energy-intensive. The state should help producers replacing old equipment by energy efficient equipment," Serhiy Tihipko says.
At the same time, bread prices will remain stable, Tihipko promises.
"Our grain-growers will harvest approximately 45-46 million tons of grain crops, another 12 million tons of carry over stocks remains from the previous year. Therefore, Ukraine will not be without bread. Respectively, prices for bakery goods for population will remain at a stable level," he said.
In addition, Tihipko maintains that grain crops of the new yield, harvested in southern regions, are of a very high class and taking into consideration the poor yield in the world, demand and prices for them will be high.