Creating favorable conditions for business: what obligations has the state undertaken and what is expected of business

The government and representatives of Ukrainian business have signed a statement on deepening cooperation between the state and entrepreneurs to improve the business climate in Ukraine. The document was signed during the presentation of the All-Ukrainian Economic Platform "Made in Ukraine", created at the initiative of the President of Ukraine.

The document was signed by First Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine - Minister of Economy of Ukraine Yulia Svyrydenko on behalf of the Government, and by representatives of business associations, including Chairman of the Federation of Employers of Ukraine Dmytro Oliynyk, Executive Director of the Union of Ukrainian Entrepreneurs Kateryna Glazkova, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine Olena Koszarny, President of the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Gennadiy Chyzhykov, President of the Ukrainian League of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs Anatoliy Kinakh, Chairman of the Association of Wind Entrepreneurs

"In the face of an existential threat to the existence of Ukrainian statehood, building effective interaction between business and government is a matter of national security for Ukraine. Effective interaction requires building a new format of dialogue to address pressing issues and to develop a new social contract between entrepreneurs and the state, in particular in jointly counteracting and preventing illegal pressure on entrepreneurs, transparent taxation and fair taxation, and implementing mechanisms for the development of Ukrainian producers," the joint statement reads.

The parties declared their intention to work together to create favorable conditions for doing business in Ukraine and also noted the need for entrepreneurs to pay taxes.

The statement says that the state, for its part, is committed to

• create conditions to prevent unlawful pressure on business by security forces;
• reduce the administrative burden and increase the transparency of the taxation system;
• increase the transparency of the customs work;
• create a favorable business climate;
• continue deregulation of economic relations, where possible and appropriate;
• implement programs for the development of Ukrainian producers, including through access to public procurement and stimulating demand for Ukrainian goods;
• promote investment through access to cheap financial resources, development of industrial infrastructure and simplification of grid connection, access to raw materials, and investment insurance;
• open foreign markets for Ukrainian goods and provide support for Ukrainian non-resource exports.

For their part, business representatives declare the following commitments

• pay taxes in the amount required by law;
• officially employ workers and officially pay full salaries;
• not to cooperate with Russia;
• invest in production and business development in Ukraine;
• ensure a decent return of veterans to the work environment.

The signatories of the joint statement identified the following as priority areas for cooperation between the state and entrepreneurs:

• Developing practical solutions to reduce pressure on entrepreneurs by law enforcement agencies, including the development of appropriate amendments to the CPC
• rebooting the Bureau of Economic Security;
• defining criteria for classifying businesses as "white" and a list of benefits for such businesses;
• creating a platform for receiving feedback from entrepreneurs;
• Developing initiatives to support the development of Ukrainian producers;
• developing solutions to improve and digitalize the booking and business travel system.

The solutions will be developed on the basis of the Entrepreneurship Support Council, as well as on the Made in Ukraine platform and platforms of Ukrainian business associations.