Ukraine eyes improved trade ties with Saudi Arabia

By Diyar Guldogan

ANKARA

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said Wednesday that his country hoped to attract more investment from Saudi Arabia.

“We welcome the participation of Saudi public and private capital in the implementation of attractive and mutually beneficial projects on the territory of Ukraine,” Poroshenko said, according to a statement released by his office.

Poroshenko made the remarks on the second day of a two-day state visit to Riyadh, where he has already met with the head of Saudi Arabia’s influential Public Investment Fund.

Speaking on Wednesday, the Ukrainian president said Kiev had recently adopted measures aimed at improving the country’s business climate and attracting foreign investment.

Poroshenko also invited Saudi companies to take part in Ukraine’s ongoing privatization process.

The Ukrainian president met earlier with Abdullatif bin Rashid al-Zayani, secretary-general of the Gulf Cooperation Council (of which Saudi Arabia is a leading member), urging the six-nation council to play a more active role in protecting the rights of Crimean Tatars.

While in Riyadh, Poroshenko is also slated to meet with Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz, with whom he is expected to discuss Saudi-Ukraine relations.