KIEV, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Ukraine planned to widen its regional investment funds network to create 30,000 new jobs in five years, the Federation of Employers said Monday.
"We want to create a system that will help develop small and medium business in Ukraine. Investors are ready to give money to help someone else create their business," federation deputy chairman Anna Bezludna told journalists here.
The investment funds would provide loans to selected startups at half the cost of bank loans, she said.
Currently, two regional investment funds were functioning in Ukraine, in the western Chernovtsy and northern Zhytomyr regions, Bezludna said, adding funds would be established in eastern Kharkov, central Poltava and southern Odessa regions in the near future.
The program will support early-stage startups with innovative solutions.
The Ukrainian government aims to be among the top 100 countries for ease of doing business, promising a better work environment for entrepreneurs and less regulatory red tape.
Currently, Ukraine occupies 137th place in a World Bank business ranking among 185 countries.
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