You're reading: Poroshenko appointed economic development and trade minister of Ukraine

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has appointed Petro Poroshenko to the post of economic development and trade minister.

A relevant decree was posted on the president’s Web site on Friday, March 23.

As reported, on Feb. 14, 2012, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych dismissed Andriy Kliuyev as first deputy prime minister and minister of economic development and trade, and appointed him as secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, in place of Raisa Bohatyriova.

On Feb. 16, Regions Party Leader Oleksandr Yefremov said that Poroshenko would be appointed to the post of Ukraine’s economic development and trade minister.

However, Poroshenko didn’t give his consent to this appointment and the negotiations on this issue lasted for more than a month.

Poroshenko headed the Council of the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) from 2007. He then served as foreign minister from October 2009 until March 2011.