Photo from UNIAN
Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman says effective privatization in Ukraine can continue, without the appointment of a new head of the State Property Fund (SPF), while the candidates for the office are yet to be agreed with the parliamentary coalition.
"Consultations regarding the head of the State Property Fund will be held with the coalition, and the candidate will be determined for sure. But we do not need to wait for a new head today. There is an acting head, first deputy, so let him work to implement it [privatization] effectively," Groysman told a Ukrainian TV channel.
He also stressed the importance of approving a new privatization legislation by parliament as early as September this year.
As UNIAN reported earlier, head of the State Property Fund Ihor Bilous resigned in April 2017. Following that, First Deputy Head of the SPF Dmytro Parfenenko was appointed an acting deputy head of the agency.
Read alsoRada green-lights resignation of privatization agency's headIn July, Ukraine's Cabinet of Ministers approved and submitted to the presidential National Reform Council a new draft law on privatization, providing for a significant simplification of the procedure for the sale of state assets.
The bill envisages the regulation of privatization by one law (now there are seven), reducing the number of types of privatization objects to just two (instead of five): big and small. Moreover, instead of five privatization procedures, it is proposed to leave just two: auction and redemption. Big privatization objects will be sold exclusively with the participation of acclaimed advisors, and small ones – via the ProZorro e-procurement system. In addition, the privatization procedure can be challenged only according to English law.
Read alsoUkraine's government suggests excluding gas transport system from privatization listThe 2017 budget estimates potential proceeds from privatization to the tune of UAH 17.1 billion, or US$662 million.