Ukraine's PM proposed WB to increase investment portfolio for Ukraine.

KIEV, October 2 (Itar-Tass) -- Ukraine's Prime Minister Nikolai Azarov
has proposed the World Bank to increase its investment portfolio for
Ukraine, the government's press service reported on Saturday.
"We suggest a global program of food security for at least ten years
be realized in our country," Azarov said during talks with World Bank Vice
President Inger Andersen in Kiev.
"In 2010, the world's grain deficit will reach 60 million tons, and in
the next 10 years, the world, obviously, will have to face food shortage
problems. Meanwhile, Ukraine in capable of producing more than 100 million
tons of grain, i.e. it might become part of the global food security
program," he said. "There are no resources other than those of the World
Bank that may secure such a program."
Andersen, for his part, said Ukraine's proposal was very timely. In
his words, agricultural production is currently in the focus of the
post-recession world, since the global climate change has told on the
traditional outlay of the agricultural industry, and the world community
is looking into the problem of ensuring stable development of the food
market.
According to the World Bank vice president, the bank has begun
drafting a new strategy for Ukraine, and the proposal of the Ukrainian
prime minister will be subject to serious scrutiny.

.Ukraine, Russia plan to build 13 modernized An-70 military transport
planes.

KIEV, October 3 (Itar-Tass) -- Ukraine and Russia plan to build 13
upgraded An-70 short take-off and landing tactical military transport
aircraft, the president and chief designer of Ukraine's Antonov state
enterprise told Itar-Tass on Saturday.
According to Dmitry Kiva, An-70 flight tests will soon be over, static
tests are underway, and the enterprise is getting ready to launch mass
production in Kiev. The new version of the plane has been profoundly
modernized to be equipped with an upgraded power unit, a new generation
secondary power unit, an electronic display system, an electronic
environment control system, new aircraft instrumentation, a new radar
complex and a fly-by-wire system. All these modifications, Kiva said, will
help the An-70 retain its competitive advantages, since in every aspects
it is superior to the European A-400M military transport plane.
According to Antonov experts, the An-70 market capacity is estimated
at 700 planes.
Currently, the enterprise is building first two modernized An-70
planes to the order from the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence. The first
plane is expected to be turned out in 2011, the second one - in 2012.
It is planned to build two more An-70 aircraft in 2013, fourt - in
2014, and five - in 2015.
The Antonov-70 is a new propfan powered medium-size wide-body short
take-off and landing transport aircraft designed as a replacement for the
An-12 'Cub.' The aircraft is capable of delivering 20-35 tons of cargo
over the range of 5,000-6,600 kilometers at cruising speed of 750
kilometers per hour.


.IMF supports Ukraine's efforts to protect the poorest - Strauss-Kahn.

WASHINGTON, October 3 (Itar-Tass) -- The International Monetary Fund
(IMF) supports Ukraine's efforts to protect the most vulnerable people in
society, IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn said on Saturday
after his talks with the Ukrainian government.
Strauss-Kahn took part in the forum "Ukraine and the World:
Re-thinking of Perspectives," which was held in the Ukrainian resort city
of Yalta.
During his stay in Ukraine, the IMF managing director met with
Ukrainian Prime Minister Nikolai Azarov, chairman of the country's
National Bank Vladimir Stelmakh and Minister of Finance Fyodor Yaroshenko.
"Our meetings focused on the challenges Ukraine faces in its efforts
to ensure sustainable growth and create the conditions to improve the
living standards of its citizens. I commend the government on its efforts
in implementing its economic program, which is supported by the IMF,"
Strauss-Kahn said in a statement.
"As it undertakes these difficult measures (to refor the economy),
the government recognizes that the most vulnerable people in society must
be protected. The IMF supports these efforts to help the poorest families
in Ukraine, and better targeting of social programs can help to reduce
costs and improve effectiveness even further.
"We agree that people must be at the center of the reform process.
According to the press service of the Ukrainian government, Prime
Minister Nikolai Azarov asked the IMF to help the country carry out a
pension reform. The country undertook to increase years of pensionable
service by the end of 2010 and to take measures to increase retirement age
for women.
-0-ras


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