The Prime Minister of Ukraine within his working trip to Ottawa met with his Canadian counterpart Stephen Harper.

The Prime Minister of Ukraine stressed that Stephen Harper is a sincere friend of Ukraine: ”You’ve done a lot to protect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Ukrainian state".

He expressed gratitude to Canadian Prime Minister for his personal involvement and a strong position on the support of Ukraine - economic and financial and political, “that Ukraine will be truly prosperous nation”.

“We feel that the Canadian people support the Ukrainian people,” Arseniy Yatsenyuk said.

The Prime Minister of Ukraine also noted the importance of a strong position of Canada as a member of the G7 against Russian aggression: “Together with our international friends and partners you are a leader in supporting Ukraine against the Russian-led terrorists”.

Arseniy Yatsenyuk reminded that Stephen Harper has already been in Kyiv three times. The last time the two heads of Governments visited training process of future Kyiv patrol police. Arseniy Yatsenyuk expressed gratitude to the Government of Canada for the assistance in creating a new patrol police and for dispatching of experts for their training.

In the framework of the working trip the document on completion of negotiations regarding the establishment of a FTA between Ukraine and Canada was signed on Tuesday, July 14.

Prime Minister of Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk stressed that the signing of this document “opens a new page in bilateral relations between Ukraine and Canada”.

“This should deepen Ukrainian-Canadian cooperation, increase bilateral investment. This is another step to make our country prosperous,” he said.

The provisions of the draft Agreement on free trade between Ukraine and Canada provide, in particular, the deepening of trade and economic cooperation, including trade in industrial and agricultural goods, intellectual property protection and regulation of public procurement.

When the Agreement entries into force Canada makes free access to 98% of its goods market to Ukrainian exporters immediately. But Ukraine completely abolishing import duties will have a transition period before the liberalization of the market.

In the long term for the business the Agreement will be the opportunity to diversify trade flows, will be the impetus to modernize Ukrainian enterprises for the production of goods with high added value for the export to Canada.

During the meeting of Ukrainian Prime Minister with representatives of Canadian business the issues of attracting Canadian investments into Ukraine and increasing bilateral trade, especially - in exports of Ukrainian products to Canada has been discussed.

Canadian investors are interested in the energy sector, information technology and food production.

The meeting raised the issue of holding a Ukrainian-Canadian investment conference.

In the framework of his visit to Ottawa, Prime Minister of Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk met with representatives of the Ukrainian Diaspora in Canada.

Prime Minister of Ukraine thanked the Diaspora for supporting Ukraine. He noted the importance of their work on promoting the interests of Ukraine in various areas.

He expressed gratitude to the Ukrainian Canadians for its help in the rehabilitation of ATO soldiers, for humanitarian aid, volunteerism, vigorous advocacy of Ukraine in the world.

The participants of the meeting discussed the most important issues of the internal and external situation of Ukraine. It was about countering the Russian propaganda and the concentration of all efforts of the free world in defense of our country.