REUTERS
The model of land market proposed by the Cabinet involves participation of foreigners only as beneficiaries of companies registered in Ukraine.
The model of the land market opening in Ukraine suggests that only Ukrainians or companies registered in the country can be buyers, while foreigners can be their beneficiaries.
Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk delivered a comment during a conference "Land as a Factor in the Development of the Ukrainian Village", while answering questions from attendees.
"In the existing model, there may be foreigners [beneficiaries of companies that will buy land]. In the model we are now discussing, it is possible," he said.
At the same time, the prime minister noted that the government was ready to discuss restrictions on the participation of foreign investors.
"We can talk some restrictions if someone has certain concerns... If you have real fears that the Chinese will come here, that there are billions waiting at the borders, these are all fairy tales – there's no such thing. But if such concerns are out there, we are ready to discuss with you the tools to reduce these risks," the prime minister added.
Read alsoPresident Zelensky assures only Ukrainian citizens, companies to be able to buy farmland
Honcharuk noted that now in Ukraine there are more than a thousand cases when foreigners cultivate Ukrainian land, albeit in the format of land leases rather than ownership. At the same time, performance of many of them is exemplary, therefore the prime minister believes that they have earned the right to participate in the opening of the market in one way or another.
"If we limit something and don't provide any legal instrument for such people to preserve and protect, it will look like Ukraine is driving foreign investors out. For me personally, this is unacceptable," he stressed. "We have foreign companies that are working here. Nothing wrong with that. On the contrary, in most cases when this happens, this leads to the fact that investments and equipment come in, jobs are created, taxes are paid, and so on. The entire experience of foreigners investing in Ukrainian land shows that a foreigner often performs their duties just as well as any other civilized owner," the prime minister added.
As UNIAN reported earlier today, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that after the launch of the farmland market, only Ukrainians or Ukrainian companies would be able to buy it.
Prior to this, the head of state instructed the Cabinet of Ministers to draft by Oct 1 a bill on the circulation of agricultural land, and the Verkhovna Rada – to lift the farmland sales moratorium by Dec 1, 2019.
Read alsoFarmland sale moratorium must be lifted before Dec 1. Zelensky says
On Sept 19, Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk announced that the Cabinet of Ministers was proposing to open a land market in Ukraine from Oct 1, 2020.
Among other things, the Cabinet proposes to guarantee the priority right to acquire land plots to those who are currently leasing them.