Agro Perspectiva

Zubko: Fast reforms require simplified procedures and team work

18.08.2015 16:13 "Agro Perspectiva" (Kyiv) — Creating a project office and simplification of procedures will speed up the Ukrainian modernization process, Government Portal says quoting the Ukrainian Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Regional Development, Construction, Housing and Utilities Gennadiy Zubko as speaking within a meeting with the World Bank Country Director for Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova Qimiao Fan. As to the report, the parties discussed enhancement of effectiveness of cooperation and implementation of projects. Reportedly, Zubko addressed the World Bank with an offer to revise technical procedures and terms of approval of project decisions. «Under the crisis conditions, procedural delays of joint projects are unacceptable neither for Ukraine nor for the World Bank,» the Vice Premier said. As to the report, Zubko also proposed to set up a working group comprising representatives of the Ministry of Regional Development and the World Bank, which is to elaborate the changes in operating manuals and technical specifications in the current and future projects implemented by the World Bank in Ukraine. «Reforms can’t wait. We should take into account the situation faced by Ukraine and remove those obstacles and challenges which occurred in the process of implementation of previous projects,» Zubko stressed. «We should encounter the need and importance to execute joint projects on reconstruction of water networks, centralized heating. It is crucial here to organize a team work of the Ministry staff, the Bank’s project management group and professionals to ensure implementation of projects in the areas of water utilities and communal heating», he noted. «We took a decision to establish a project office within in the Ministry at the expense of own savings, thus enabling to coordinate team work and to help water utility and heating utility companies to effectively perform projects activities,» Zubko said. It is to be admitted, the Ukrainian Ministry of Regional Development, Construction, Housing and Utilities presently coordinates several projects of international financial assistance to Ukraine. In particular, projects with the World Bank include «Urban Infrastructure Development» (US$140 million), «Urban Infrastructure Development - 2» (US$350 million), «District Heating Energy Efficiency» (US$382 million). Besides, together with the European Investment Bank there are now implemented «Emergency credit program to renew Ukraine» and «Municipal Infrastructure Development in Ukraine».