You're reading: Azarov promises to radically change Ukraine within five years

Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov has said that Ukraine needs to rely on innovative technologies for its development.

"Within the next five years we should fundamentally change our country. The main emphasis should be placed on intellectual innovation. At the first stage, which is next year, we will focus on concentrating resources in the development of basic sectors of the economy," the premier said in Kyiv on Tuesday during the opening of an international medical forum and an international forum of the pharmaceutical industry.

He said that he was speaking about fuel and energy, farming, housing and utilities, engineering and infrastructure sectors.

Azarov recalled that the government had worked out a program of innovation and investment that is to run until 2015.

According to him, at the second stage of the program, to run from 2013-2015, the government will focus on aircraft and the space industry, information and communication technologies, biotechnology, nanotechnology, and on "those sectors that will shape the country’s economy."

In addition, Azarov said: "We have all the necessary conditions and the opportunities to ensure that our technology, especially medical, diagnostic, therapeutic take a worthy place in our hospitals, our clinics and research centers."