On Tuesday, Volodymyr Lytvyn, Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, visited "Zaporizhstal" metallurgical works. He stated that development of domestic market shall become a priority under the conditions of the financial and economic crisis. V.Lytvyn observed the production process and met the leaders of "Zaporizhstal". "The enterprise managed to sustain its positions owing to the diversification of trade areas, its production covering 30% of domestic metal market", - the Head of the Ukrainian Parliament stressed.
The authorities shall not only adopt resolutions concerning support of metallurgical sector, but also concern themselves with the development of domestic market and production. First and foremost, it concerns housing and road construction and engineering industry. "Metallurgists do not need the benefits, but the demand for their production, - the Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine stated. The experts have estimated that the metal produced in Ukraine can be used in the country. Then the issue concerning VAT reimbursement would not be that pressing, while it currently impedes the development of domestic enterprises".
V.Lytvyn deems necessary to settle a number of matters for the metallurgical branch to remain a leading area of development of Ukrainian economy: "Ukrainian enterprises shall be authorized to conclude the agreements on energy resources supply; reasonable land taxes shall be established; the companies shall be protected from unfair competition". The Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine drew attention to the fact that "a number of measures is taken to reduce dependence of the metallurgical works from the consumption of import energy resources". He stated that transition of the metal producers to the use of domestic coal would reduce gas consumption by 50%, which shall be beneficial for the environment. V.Lytvyn believes that "equipment non-produced in Ukraine and imported for the benefit of production modernization shall be taxed on beneficial terms". He is convinced that laws to settle this problem shall be adopted in the beginning of the next year.
Within the scope of the working visit to Zaporizhzhia, V.Lytvyn also visited Zaporizhzhia National Technical University.