Chinese experts will participate in evaluation of Ukrainian ports’ potential cargo traffic to provide businesses guidance on investment in infrastructure. An agreement to this effect was reached at the "Bridging Europe and Asia" forum in Odessa. Deputy Minister of Infrastructure Volodymyr Omelian said on his Facebook page that representatives of about a dozen countries, key participants in the Silk Road, and heads of railways, ferries, and other businesses attended the forum.
A memorandum on cooperation between the Ministry of Infrastructure and a Chinese trade association was signed at the forum. "We are approaching a clear vision of the through rate and the route and we are switching to planning the volume of goods that can be transported from China to the EU and in the opposite direction through Ukraine," said Omelian.
"Chinese partners are ready to provide their best experts with the aim of planning the strategy for directions and volumes of traffic to enable businesses to clearly predict their investments in Ukrainian infrastructure, logistics, and production," he added.
According to him, the main internal challenge is the "mess in the customs service and the extremely high port fees and charges." The Ministry of Infrastructure will work with the Ministry of Finance to solve this problem.
In addition, Omelian said that international donors were willing to engage leading lawyers to amend the law on concessions and public-private partnership.
