OREANDA-NEWS. July 15, 2013. The first half of 2013 showed that the bet on the development of domestic production, the specification of innovative points of growth, expansion of import substitution is a productive economic strategy.

This was started by Prime Minister during a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.

Mykola Azarov informed that 3 last years Government provided financial and economic stability due to the development of the internal market.

PM stressed that main direction of the Cabinet activity in the first half of 2013 was the creation of a platform for revitalization economic growth. This strategy for the State is identified by the President of Ukraine.

According for him the first half of 2013 was characterized by improving the balance of trade (according to the National Bank for five months deficit declined by more than USD 2 billion); increasing turnover of retail trade (in January-May by 12% compared with January-May of 2012); growth in agricultural production (in January-May at 5%); low price dynamics (prices rose by only 0.2% in the first half of 2013); increasing average wages (in January-May by 10%).

In addition, Mykola Azarov noted that the Government in the last half of 2013 organized supply of cheaper gas from Europe.

The Government also started the most ambitious in the history of Ukraine cooperation with world leaders in the oil and gas industry on gas production in our country; ensured the adoption of the law On the transfer price formation that will reorient the economy to meet the domestic demand and for a fair and efficient taxation and reduction of the shadow economy.

According to the PM, the Government also assumed the role of leader and assurer of risks for businesses in public-private partnership, started a dialogue with investors. The success of the ABC: Ukraine and Partners conference prove it.

Thus he stressed that in the Government have made marked by partners progress in signing an Association Agreement with the EU this autumn, including the all-inclusive FTA in the last half of 2013.

Besides it the Government appointed an authorized representative in the Board of the Eurasian Economic Union. “We hope that future cooperation with the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan will be predictable and will give better results,” Mykola Azarov said.

At the same time he stressed that the economic strategy of Ukraine in contrast to most European countries, where the social security are being minimized, provided an opportunity to strengthen the social role of the state, to find resources for a permanent increase in social benefits. “This shows that the Government conducts optimal course in the current national and global socio-economic conditions,” Mykola Azarov noted.

However, the Prime Minister stressed that the positive economic trends should be continued to strengthen: investment in production, job creation, energy efficiency technologies, import substitution and on this basis, the growth of social standards, increase the capacity of the domestic market.