26.11.2009
Ukraine should resume works at special economic zone "Nikolayev", and Ukraine's Ministry of Industrial Policy should have a department engaged in shipbuilding issues. That was said today by Vladimir Litvin, Speaker of Supreme Rada (Ukrainian parliament) and presidential candidate at the meeting with staff of Nikolayev 61 Kommunara Shipyard.
Ukraine is one of the world's 10 largest shipbuilding countries – it has 25 shipyards, he said. But only two of them are government property and they should be preferred contractors for governmental orders, added Litvin.
"State shipyards must gain an advantage while holding of shipbuilding tenders. We should build and equip ships, barges; engineering ideas should develop; our products should have appropriate price... Ukraine represented by its leaders must answer the question whether the country needs shipbuilding industry or not", he said.
Mr. Litvin considers necessary to fulfill Law of governmental assistance to Ukrainian shipbuilding industry in full-scale. That primarily concerns Nikolayev region where "highly qualified shipwrights have not drawn salary for seven months". He also suggests resuming works at special economic zone "Nikolayev" to "keep shipbuilding industry among priorities".
V. Litvin emphasized that the shipyard could not complete guided missile cruiser
Ukraina for 17 years now, although it was designed as powerful and state-of-the art ship. According to the Speaker, Ukraine should finish the construction as there are some potential buyers, including Russia, China and India.
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