The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has just 77 days to review and approve 23 draft laws and resolutions that will provide Ukraine with a place in the TOP 50 of the Doing Business ranking of ease of doing business created by the World Bank.
The Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine Yuliya Klymenko, the First Deputy Minister of Justice of Ukraine Natalya Sevostyanova and the head of the Better Regulation Delivery Office BRDO Oleksiy Honcharuk, who participated in a press conference on the first results of execution of the roadmap for implementation of best practices of quality and effective regulation as reflected in the Doing business ranking’s methodology by the World Bank Group, reported that on March 15.
In autumn 2015, the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine together with BRDO experts developed a program of 43 steps to simplify the business environment in Ukraine. On December, the Cabinet of Ministers approved this Roadmap. Each step involves approving specific documents amending the existing legislation, removing certain barriers and harmonizing procedures that exist in Ukraine with the best international practices. Experts estimate that taking just the first 23 steps of the plan by May 31, 2016 will provide Ukraine with a place in the TOP 50 of countries for ease of doing business.
The press conference participants stated that 23 draft laws and resolutions have been already worked out at this moment: 11 documents have been already registered (based on 2 laws), another 12 – have been developed and are in the process of final discussion and approval or registration.
The Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine Yuliya Klymenko said that increasing Ukraine’s position in the Doing Business ranking is not a goal in itself for participants of this process. She is convinced that first of all, it is a positive signal for investors.
There are 77 calendar days to the scheduled date of May 31, when the first 23 steps of the plan should be implemented. As Yuliya Klymenko noted, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has only 25 working days from the whole term.
The Deputy Minister of Justice of Ukraine Natalya Sevostyanova said that each step could significantly improve Ukraine’s positions in the ranking. For example, just the adoption of a procedure of online registration for business entities in 24 hours would allow Ukraine to move up from rank 70 to rank 30 in terms of “Business registration”.
The systematic work over improving conditions for business development requires close cooperation between different structures, because the whole list of Roadmap’s steps implies the cooperation of various state administrative bodies and businesses. Natalya Sevostyanova believes that this is the issues, where the assistance of state expert organizations is very important and effective. The First Deputy Minister of Justice specially focused on a role of the Better Regulation Delivery Office BRDO in working out the draft laws and establishing the system of communications for regulatory policy between all participants.
“Achieving the better position in the Doing Business ranking is, first of all, the evaluation of reforms in Ukraine by the world economic community. We need to show the world that we are part of civilized economic environment. They have to begin to trust us. In particular – large consistent investors,” Oleksiy Honcharuk said.
As noted by experts, steps of the Doing Business 2017 Roadmap’s program are a way to systemic changes. It is not only simplifying the registration procedures or reducing the control over enterprises, but also an opportunity to systematically increase the effective development of business environment through the access to more affordable credit resources, strengthen the protection of investors’ rights and many other positive results.