Zelensky calls on IFC, World Bank to invest in small settlements

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has assured international partners that he is ready to protect investments and called for investing in the development of small settlements.
He said this at a meeting with Vice President of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) Georgina Baker, World Bank Country Director for Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine Satu Kahkonen and Regional Manager of the International Finance Corporation in Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova Jason Pellmar in Mariupol on October 29, the press service of the head of state reported.

"We are grateful to the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation for their assistance with reform implementation. You have seen how many bills have already been adopted. We are now starting to implement them," Zelensky said.

He also thanked the International Finance Corporation for the implementation of a transport project in Mariupol and expressed hope that similar projects would appear in other cities of Ukraine.

"Our idea is to start the development from Mariupol. That is why the investment forum is taking place here, in eastern Ukraine. A city once liberated can become truly European," Zelensky said.

He said he was ready to protect investments and called for investing in the development of small settlements.

"In particular, we need investments to build new schools, hospitals, roads and bridges," Zelensky said.

He recalled that laws promoting economic deregulation had already been adopted. In addition, Ukraine is preparing for large-scale privatization of state property and land reform, he said.