Chairman of the Joint Ukrainian-French Commission on Economic Cooperation, Ministers A. Avakov and B. Le Mer discussed key interstate projects
Today there was a telephone conversation between the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Arsen Avakov and the Minister of Economy and Finance of the French Republic Bruno Le Mer with the participation of the ambassadors of the two states Vadim Omelchenko and Etienne de Ponsen. The parties discussed the state of cooperation between the countries in the main existing and future economic and social programmes of recent times.
In particular, it was about the actual readiness to start the implementation of a new project for the construction of patrol boats for the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine by the company OSEA with the participation of domestic shipbuilders in Mykolaiv. In addition, further development of successful cooperation with Airbus Helicopters in creating a unified air safety and civil protection system of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine was discussed.
.jpg)
Also, the heads of the intergovernmental commission spoke about solving the problems of French investors Total Eren and Akuo Energy in the field of renewable energy and about the possibility of building energy storage capacities in cooperation with Ukrenergo and RTE/SAFT. In addition, Ministers A.Avakov and B.Le Mer exchanged views on the possible involvement of French financial institutions to provide housing for employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs on the terms of mortgage lending or financial leasing, as well as on the involvement of international technical assistance from the Government of the French Republic to strengthen public security and social sphere of the Don Bass. Concerning this Ukrainian region, special attention was paid to the improvement of the humanitarian situation in Mariupol. The implementation of the project for the construction of a drinking water station in Mariupol by Beten Ingeniere and Stereau is already beginning there. The parties discussed the possibility of expanding a similar program to Popasnyansky district of Luhansk region.
“We are ready to start and sign a contract with the OSCE on the start of construction of patrol border ships to strengthen the maritime security and protection of Ukraine. This project, with a total cost of 136 million euros, is the second most important for our countries after the helicopter project with Airbus. Its implementation is of strategic importance for the cooperation of our states and brings it to a qualitatively new level. OCEA was selected from more than 10 industry-leading suppliers. The intergovernmental agreement on the provision of support to France has already been ratified by our Parliament. We invite representatives of the Government of France to the contract signing ceremony, which will be held in Ukraine in July this year with the participation of the Ukrainian partner - the shipbuilding plant in Nikolaev, which will build 5 out of a total of 20 modern ships,” Arsen Avakov said.
During this year, it is planned to supply Ukraine with four more French helicopters H 225 for the NGU and the State Emergency Service, two H 145 helicopters for the NPU and the H225 training complex for the base of the training center of the Kremenchuk Flight College of the Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs and spare parts for the service center. As you know, Airbus helicopters are actively involved in overcoming the consequences of the natural disaster in the western regions of Ukraine.
.jpg)
Regarding the launch of a humanitarian project to improve water supply in Mariupol worth 64 million euros, Minister Avakov told his French counterpart: “Mariupol is of strategic importance for us and we are very pleased that the official start of the project implementation will take place in the coming weeks. At the same time, we are considering the possibility of starting negotiations on its extension to the Luhansk region, namely the Popasnyansky district in the next step. These territories are now going through difficult times and everything aimed at improving the humanitarian situation there is always a priority of the Ukrainian authorities.”
The Minister of Economy and Finance of the French Republic Bruno Le Mer thanked Arsen Avakov for his cooperation and expressed readiness to work together on the implementation of existing and future mutually beneficial projects.
“On behalf of the government of Ukraine, I express my gratitude to the French government and the French people for the constant political and economic support of our country. Despite all the difficulties, Ukraine and France always stand side by side and together overcome the challenges that face us,” Arsen Avakov said.
Department of Communications of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine
