OREANDA-NEWS. September 17, 2010. President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych and President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev took part in the Ukrainian-Kazakh business forum.

The Ukrainian Head of State welcomed the participants, saying: "I wish such meetings became a tradition between our countries, between our business communities. I am sure that every such friendly meeting is a great incentive for development of trade-economic relations and will always be aimed at improving the economy and implementing the projects we identify. Especially as both Ukraine and Kazakhstan have large unrealized potential".

The Head of State stressed that Kazakhstan is among the traditionally safe and priority economic partners of Ukraine. In turn, our state ranks second after Russia among the trade partners of Kazakhstan in the Commonwealth of Independent States, and the fifth among all other countries.

Viktor Yanukovych noted that he aims to at least "return our bilateral trade volumes to the pre-crisis level". “Later on, we should provide substantial incremental growth of trade volumes and get the most out of realization of joint large-scale projects," President Yanukovych said, adding that the Presidents of Ukraine and Kazakhstan both have the necessary will to do that. "We are waiting for your incentives," he said, referring to participants of the forum.

Viktor Yanukovych noted that not only businessmen, but high-level officials are also present at the forum. "We set a task to find a reasonable way to unite efforts of the government and business," he said.

The President expressed the belief that through creating various effective common enterprises and mutual investment the sides would achieve the desired results. According to him, these steps will greatly improve investment opportunities in our countries, raise the competitiveness of our economies and provide new impetus to their further development.

According to President Yanukovych, big business should play the leading role in development of bilateral economic cooperation. "We will do our best to support development of bilateral relations at the level of businesses," he added.

"Today, we expect much more active position of our friends, same as of the Ukrainian business. We would like to see concrete economic projects, specific proposals and plans and begin implementing them. All the conditions were created for this," he said.

The President drew attention of those present to the fact that order was brought in our country in a short period and that the process continues. In particular, he said, the new Tax Code, which will create new motivation for development of the economy and business, is being prepared for adoption.

Viktor Yanukovych wished participants of the meeting fruitful work, and success to President Nazarbayev in realization of Kazakhstan's major plans. The President stressed that Ukraine is always ready to "lend a friendly shoulder" to our Kazakh friends.