Business met with the newly appointed Minister of Agrarian Policy

27/ 03/ 2022

On March 26, the European Business Association met with Mykola Solskyi – the newly appointed Minister of Agrarian Policy. We talked about the most pressing issues - food security, reserving workers from mobilization for the sowing period, critical imports, lending, and more. The Minister ensured that the sowing works have begun and the lending programs have been simplified for SMEs. Starting from next week, they will receive funds under 20% of grain collateral and 80% of state guarantees. It is likely that this principle will apply to traders. As for stocks of fertilizers, Ukraine has enough nitrogen fertilizers and there are 80% of last years stocks (the Cabinet of Ministers also allowed their import). Herbicides remain about half of last years stock. The fuel, although not cheap, but is also available. Companies can reserve workers from mobilization for the sowing period. The relevant permits are being issue, the procedure takes 3-5 days. The Ministry has signed an order to reserve about 12,000 employees. However, according to business, on the ground, some local authorities ignore orders - so business calls for local authorities to take a more conscious approach to such issues. Besides, the Ministry supports the idea of reserving employees of the food industry. The European Business Association will form the necessary proposals and send them to the Ministry of Agrarian Policy in the near future. The Minister said that the list of critical imports would not be abolished. Therefore, the EBA will supplement it by providing reasonable arguments. Other specific issues were raised. For example, in the context of veterinary medicine. Thus, the new Law on Veterinary Medicine enters into force in March 2023. As of today, only 2 out of 85 bylaws have been developed and adopted. Therefore, business proposes the date of entry into force of the law to be postponed for one year. All necessary proposals will be sent to the Ministry. The Minister confirmed that dairy producers would be provided with preferential gas (this possibility is also available for bakers). At the same time, we talked about the need to maintain a register of agricultural receipts, the issue of VAT refunds to exporters, lending to farmers, and so on. The European Business Association sincerely thanks Mykola Solskyi for his readiness to meet with business immediately, and to listen to questions and suggestions from the community. We look forward to further cooperation. Together we will win this war!

On March 26, the European Business Association met with Mykola Solskyi – the newly appointed Minister of Agrarian Policy.

We talked about the most pressing issues – food security, reserving workers from mobilization for the sowing period, critical imports, lending, and more.

The Minister ensured that the sowing works have begun and the lending programs have been simplified for SMEs. Starting from next week, they will receive funds under 20% of grain collateral and 80% of state guarantees. It is likely that this principle will apply to traders. As for stocks of fertilizers, Ukraine has enough nitrogen fertilizers and there are 80% of last year’s stocks (the Cabinet of Ministers also allowed their import). Herbicides remain about half of last year’s stock. The fuel, although not cheap, but is also available.

Companies can reserve workers from mobilization for the sowing period. The relevant permits are being issue, the procedure takes 3-5 days. The Ministry has signed an order to reserve about 12,000 employees. However, according to business, on the ground, some local authorities ignore orders – so business calls for local authorities to take a more conscious approach to such issues.

Besides, the Ministry supports the idea of reserving employees of the food industry. The European Business Association will form the necessary proposals and send them to the Ministry of Agrarian Policy in the near future.

The Minister said that the list of critical imports would not be abolished. Therefore, the EBA will supplement it by providing reasonable arguments.

Other specific issues were raised. For example, in the context of veterinary medicine. Thus, the new Law on Veterinary Medicine enters into force in March 2023. As of today, only 2 out of 85 bylaws have been developed and adopted. Therefore, business proposes the date of entry into force of the law to be postponed for one year. All necessary proposals will be sent to the Ministry.

The Minister confirmed that dairy producers would be provided with preferential gas (this possibility is also available for bakers). At the same time, we talked about the need to maintain a register of agricultural receipts, the issue of VAT refunds to exporters, lending to farmers, and so on.

The European Business Association sincerely thanks Mykola Solskyi for his readiness to meet with business immediately, and to listen to questions and suggestions from the community. We look forward to further cooperation. Together we will win this war!