As of today, Ukraine has access to export agricultural products in 340 trade directions, with plans to strengthen efforts to open new markets and increase the country’s export potential over the next five years. This was stated by the head of the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection, Serhiy Tkachuk, during a speech at the 10th Kyiv International Economic Forum, as part of the panel discussion 'How Ukraine Can Become Part of the EU and Protect Its Economic Interests.'
“We are among the key responsible authorities in the country for opening new markets: we work with over 60 countries on plant and animal products. We plan to open 240 new markets within five years. At the same time, our country is integrating into the EU. Chapter 12, which covers food safety, veterinary, and phytosanitary policies, constitutes 19% of the overall requirements facing Ukraine. There is much work ahead, but we will succeed, as we are responsible to our defenders and future generations,” said Serhiy Tkachuk.
He also reminded that the service plays a key role in opening new international markets for Ukrainian businesses, as it is responsible for controlling 100% of Ukraine’s agricultural exports.
"Implementing EU requirements is now one of our priorities. However, it is important for us to protect our own interests—the interests of Ukrainian businesses. Currently, tasks include supporting stable trade with partner countries, eliminating barriers to exports, lifting restrictions on certain products, and simplifying certification and transit procedures," Tkachuk added.
During his speech, Tkachuk also discussed the reform of the State Service, particularly the digitalization of all processes and services to simplify the work for businesses and citizens. "The transition to digital systems will reduce the time for obtaining permits from 5-20 days to 1-5 days. Additionally, some services, such as facility registrations, will be processed in real time, meaning within minutes."
"Services will be available online, eliminating the need for unnecessary trips, queues, and stacks of paperwork. Users will be able to track the status of their services in their personal online cabinet, view all inspections and results, and easily pay for services through a unified system with automatic generation of payment documents," Tkachuk added.
The digital transformation of the State Service is supported by the Ministry of Digital Transformation, the Support for Digital Transformation project funded by USAID and UK Dev, and implemented with the participation of the Eastern Europe Foundation.
Note: The Kyiv International Economic Forum (KIEF) is one of the largest in Eastern Europe, bringing together business, government, and society representatives to discuss key economic issues and global trends. This year, KIEF is celebrating its 10th anniversary.
