Ukraine has begun negotiations on its accession to the Agreement on Government Procurement as part of its membership of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said this, while opening a government meeting on Wednesday, a UKRINFORM reporter said.

"The Ukrainian government has begun negotiations on [Ukraine's] accession to the Agreement on Government Procurement, which will ensure the access of domestic producers to the government procurement markets of WTO member countries," the prime minister said.

Azarov noted that Ukraine was currently in talks to improve the conditions of accession to sectoral agreements within the WTO. He said that this would help improve the level of protection for the domestic market. "Although this triggers criticism by importers and a lot of ordered reports, we believe that these priorities are proper. Jobs in Ukraine are more important," the prime minister said.

He said that the government was currently working out new mechanisms for businesses that are ready to invest in the creation of jobs. The implementation of the law on public-private partnership will facilitate this process. "This opens up access for private entrepreneurs to traditionally profitable objects and economic sectors, which were earlier under the monopolistic control of the state," Azarov said.

Ukrinform