Vice PM Kubiv: Ukraine to sign FTA with Israel in early 2019

"We have completed the negotiations on a free trade agreement with Israel. The Government endorsed the text of the agreement and authorized me, as the minister, to sign it. The agreement will be officially signed in the first months of 2019," First Vice Prime Minister - Economic Development and Trade Minister of Ukraine Stepan Kubiv said at the Cabinet’s meeting, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

He also noted that Ukraine had started to prepare for the Expo 2020 in the UAE.

"In 2018, Ukrainian economy has continued to grow, and the GDP growth will be 3% by the end of the year. Over 11 months of 2018, Ukraine saw the industrial production growth of almost 2% if compared with 11 months of 2017. The exports of Ukrainian goods have been increasing for almost two years in a row. Over ten months this year, Ukrainian producers exported their goods to the tune of nearly $39 billion," Kubiv added.

The Government of Ukraine also holds talks on the preferences for Ukrainian industry and concludes the free trade agreements, which are prerequisites for the export growth, the Vice Prime Minister added.