Austrian Ambassador: Ukraine's Competitive Advantage - Workforce, Infrastructure, Land

KYIV, Ukraine, October 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

Possessing highly skilled workforce, transport infrastructure and fertile land, Ukraine can compete in the European market. Such statement was released by the Austrian Ambassador to Ukraine Wolf Dietrich Heim at the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area Agreement with European Partners - Way to Improve Regional Competitiveness  forum in Kharkiv, as reported by Ukrinform.

According to Ambassador Heim, Ukraine has a number of advantages that allow the country to be successful on the European market. One of them is fertile land. Notably, Ukraine possesses 34 million hectares (84.6 million acres) of arable land as well as 30 percent of the world's black soil - the most favorable soil for agriculture.

Another advantage of Ukraine, according to Austrian diplomatic official, has been the transport infrastructure. Interestingly, the 2012 Global Enabling Trade Report of the World Economic Forum listed Ukraine as number 27 in the world (132 countries) regarding railroad infrastructure development. The country scored the average of 4.4 points (with a maximum of seven, which stands for extensive and efficient infrastructure by international standards), making it number one among the CIS countries. The neighboring Poland, on the other hand, occupied the 75th spot in the railroad quality list. In addition, Ukraine ranks third in Europe by the length of the railway network (21,700 kilometers of railways).

Furthermore, in preparation to EURO 2012 Football Championship Ukraine obtained 3,455 kilometers of new or renewed roads, 1,700 kilometers of railroads and 902 new public transportation vehicles, noted the 2012 Erste Group Research report. Additionally, Ukraine renovated airports in all EURO host cities - Donetsk, Kharkiv, and Lviv as well as second airport in Kyiv - Zhuliany, increasing their channel capacity and improving the runway and infrastructure.

Ambassador Wolf Dietrich Heim named Ukraine's highly qualified workforce as another competitive advantage. "There is not enough qualified workforce in Europe, especially in the field of IT-technology and engineering. Ukraine can compete here in terms of productivity," he said, as reported by Ukrinform.

Notably, on September 24, 2013, the EU member states have agreed to offer provisional application of the EU-Ukraine Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area and Association Agreement after the document is signed, without having been ratified.