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Ukraine to follow in EU, Russia footsteps to draft innovation strategy

“In Europe there is a strategy of innovative development extending till the year 2020" - Azarov said

KIEV, October 26 (Itar-Tass) —— Ukrainian Prime Minister Nikolai Azarov has instructed the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade to act in cooperation with other agencies concerned to draft a ten-year innovation strategy within tight deadlines.

Azarov said in his opening remarks at a government meeting on Wednesday the document should be based, among other things, “on the idea of creating regional innovative and industrial clusters matching the specialization and the potentials of the country’s regions.”

He pointed out that in connection with the signing of a treaty on the creation of a zone of free trade with the CIS member-states, and also in view of the possibility of a similar trading and economic space with the EU countries “Ukraine is entering into a new economic reality,” in which it will be of the essence “to competently make use of the new opportunities.”

“Who will enjoy the advantages of free trade? The one who offers a better quality and lower priced, unique product. We must be prepared for greater competition, and for winning in that competition,” Azarov said. He recalled that the EU countries and a number of the CIS member-states have long conducted an active policy in the sphere of innovations.

“In Europe there is a strategy of innovative development extending till the year 2020. Russia the other day presented such a strategy, too. Similar steps are being taken by Belarus, Kazakhstan and other CIS member-states,” Azarov said.

The head of Cabinet said that Ukraine now was in the middle of the global innovation rating of the countries of the world, while the top lines of that rating list were taken by absolutely all countries of the EU, and also Russia, Kazakhstan and other major trading partners of Ukraine.