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Speech of Natalia Izosimovà on presentation of Report on the competitiveness of Ukraine
Dear ladies and gentlemen!
Today, for the second time in two years, the Foundation for Effective Governance and the World Economic Forum are presenting the results of research on Ukraine’s economic competitiveness.
Why are we talking about competitiveness at a challenging time for Ukraine?
Why the World Economic Forum? What is valuable about the obtained information and how can it be applied?
The idea about this project was born almost at the same time with the idea on creation of the Foundation two years ago as the essence and the nature of the countries’ competitiveness research carried out by WEF are very close to the Foundation. The mission of the Foundation is to promote economic growth of Ukraine as this is the only reliable way to improve the lives of all Ukrainian citizens. And what is competitiveness as seen by WEF? This is the country’s ability to ensure economic growth in the mid- and long-term perspective. And this ability is described and measured with clear quantitative and qualitative parameters, which are nothing but a set of economic growth factors.
Thus the research results provide an objective and well structured information based on facts. We believe that the information is very important for making economic decisions at the level of country’s management. This is especially important in the time of recession, when it is necessary to raise competitiveness.
I used the word “information” not by chance. The competitiveness research results do not contain any direct recommendations or even conclusions about what should be done. They are valuable because they show strengths and weaknesses of the economy and the key barriers to economic growth by removing which we can release the growth potential. In other words the results help define which areas of transformations should be addressed first and make the priorities crystal clear.
Many people regard recession as a catalyst for changes. I agree that today we have a unique opportunity to carry out important reforms, which can ensure sustainable improvement in the country’s competitiveness in the long-term perspective. Our report can become a kind of guidebook in the process.
I would like to note that the research we are presenting today is unique for Ukraine. It is unique as it considers and analyzes Ukraine’s competitiveness not only as a whole at the national level but also in the context of 15 regions (please, note that last year we studies 12 regions). In our opinion such approach can help develop a state regional policy, help each region define the priority areas of their development and understand what can be done at the regional level now to improve the life there.
As for the research results they are publicly available at the websites of the Foundation for Effective Governance. However, we intend to initiate a constructive discussion on the obtained results and first of all in the regions. We really hope that the dialogue with the regional authorities, business and expert communities and mass media will help better understand the problems and offer possible solutions.
We see one more way to use the Index of Competitiveness. One of the scientists said: “You can’t improve what you don’t measure”. We believe that the research of Ukraine’s competitiveness if carried out on an annual basis can become an efficient instrument for monitoring economic program success and transformations in the country. And this work is included into the long-term plans of the Foundation. Today’s presentation contains a wide range of comparative data.
We are very happy to cooperate with one of the most authoritative and respectful world organizations, the World Economic Forum. Index of Competitiveness is one of the oldest products of the Forum, it is about 30 years and it has been in demand all over world during all this time. I would like to thank the colleagues from the World Economic Forum for effective and professional cooperation and give the floor to Thierry Geiger, who will tell you about the approaches and methodology of the research. Then employees of the Foundation will present the result of research on Ukraine and the regions.
After the presentation we will be ready to answer all your questions. Thank you for attention.
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Foundation for Effective Governance
23F Kudrjavska Street Kiev 04053, Ukraine
Reception: +380 44 501 41 00 PR Department: +380 44 501
41 07 Fax: + 380 44 501 41 05
e-mail: feg@feg.org.ua |
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