Ukraine Improves Conditions for Doing Business - Ukrainian President

KYIV, Ukraine, March 1, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

Ukraine simplified licensing and registration procedures, as well as established clear mechanisms for setting up and maintaining a business and narrowed direct administrative control. In 2013 Ukrainian government plans to make the system of administrative services in the country more accessible. This was stated by the President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych at today's open press conference.

In 2012 the government opened 120 administrative service centers in all regions of Ukraine to reduce the number of required administrative services and their cost. This move was part of the efforts to create a single Unified State Portal of Administrative Services, which will provide the services (i.e. issuing IDs and driving licenses, registering new business, etc.), formerly divided between a great number of state institutions.

Moreover, the overall number of permits for businesses (over 1,200 documents in 2010) was reduced to 144 documents in 2012. A list of economic activities subject to licensing decreased from 77 to 56. As a result, in 2012 Ukraine climbed 15 spots to reach the 137th place on the World Bank's easiness of doing business list; within the rating the country skyrocketed on "the setting up a business" scale - it went 66 positions up.

Along with administrative, Ukraine continues implementing other vital reforms. Notably, amidst the world economic crisis Ukraine managed to implement a number of crucial social initiatives. For instance, in 2012 the number of orphans and children deprived of parental care, who were brought up in the family-type establishments reached 78 percent. The average pension was increased by 42 percent since 2010.

As for the healthcare sector, eight modern perinatal centers were opened in the country: 20,000 infants have already been born in the institutions. Notably, in 2012, Ukraine registered the lowest since 1993 infant mortality rate (8.5 per 1,000 births) and maternal mortality rate (13 per 100,000). Last year Ukraine opened 271 primary health care facilities.

Commenting on the educational reform, the president stated that as of 2012, 81 percent of preschoolers had access to a network of preschool educational establishments. There is, however, a deficit of kindergartens and middle schools, and most of the operating ones need major renovations.