Ukraine's leading English-language newspaper since 1995

U.S.-based Morgan Stanley is not to leave Ukraine, according to Ihor Mitiukov, the head of the Ukrainian office of Morgan Stanley and a former Ukrainian finance minister, in an interview with the Investgazeta newspaper.

"Morgan Stanley has decided not to leave Ukraine. In 2008, after the Russian financial crisis, many left, having closed their offices in Moscow. Morgan Stanley did not leave then. And today the bank's management believes in Ukraine's potential, in those opportunities that are to open up from its large domestic market, as well as its considerable export potential and serious possibilities of structural changes. Therefore, the management has decided not to close the office in Ukraine, unlike other countries," he said.

According to Mitiukov, Morgan Stanley is ready to support the beginning of real privatization in Ukraine.

"We look forward to the beginning of real privatization in Ukraine, and still believe it necessary to support that program. Moreover, we see that a number of the sectors of the economy, even against the backdrop of the crisis, have been demonstrating quite a fair performance. Among them are the food industry, agriculture, and pharmaceutical production. Almost everything related to import substitution is of interest to us today. In this part of the world, Morgan Stanley is focused on rendering financial services and financial consulting," he said.