OREANDA-NEWS. March 26, 2010. Ukrainian state-owned seaports must fundamentally change the approach to its work. The Govt’s companies should apply the strategy of privately owned ports, the press service of the Ukraine’s Ministry of Transport of Ukraine quoted Transport Minister Constantine Efimenko as saying.

"Private enterprises are increasing their profits because they earn their own daily capital, fighting for their place in the market, using the intellect, experience, information, contacts, all that is good for business. SOEs should operate the same way: efficiently, promptly and accurately. Only those who are able to not only maintain the regular work but to build up the capacity indicators for future development could stay in the industry”, Mr. Efimenko said.

Ministry of Transport of Ukraine plans to develop measures to direct cargo to the ports of the country. According to the press service of the Ministry, Constantine Efimenko, Minister of Transport and Communications, charged the State Administration of Maritime and River Transport with review of the ports activities on cargo attraction from competitive transportation directions to identify the main reasons why the Ukrainian ports are less attractive than others, and to propose specific measures to attract more cargo and improve maritime facilities in general.

Constantin Efimenko plans soon to make a working visit to get acquainted with the work of the largest ports of Ukraine - Odessa, Ugny, Illichivsk and Nickolaevsky. The Minister intends to meet personally with leaders of labor collectives and commercial seaports, to discuss burning issues to be addressed, and to get acquainted with their capacities and capabilities of technological base.

"The Ministry of Transport and Communications of Ukraine is one of the most powerful in economic terms among the central bodies of executive power. Almost all the companies that are under its jurisdiction, are strategically important for the state. Their work is carried out not in the quiet cabinet, but in ports, roads and railways. And we must not just see how every mechanism of this powerful machine, which is the branch of transport and communication, really works, but also respond to all challenges, take necessary steps to modernize and improve performance", - said Minister of Transport and Communication of Ukraine.

"We need to control the movement of cargo at the ports, rather than watch them ship in the direction of our neighbors. That is why we have to be fully aware of everything, to monitor global and regional trends, to implement flexible tariff policy and to collaborate with companies, cargo owners," – Mr Efimenko noted.

By the end of the working visit of the Minister it is expected to arrange management meeting of Ukranian Sea and River Fleet, Ukrzaliznitsa, State Administration of road transport and seaports.