You're reading: Wholesale agricultural markets to open in five cities in Ukraine in 2012

New wholesale agricultural markets in 2012 will open in Odesa, Zaporizhia, Kherson, Kharkiv and Chernihiv, the head of the Association of Wholesale Agricultural Markets of Ukraine, Roman Fedishyn, told reporters on Wednesday.

According to him, the construction of wholesale markets has started in Odesa (50 hectares), Zaporizhia (50 hectares), and Kherson (20 hectares).

The objects are to be commissioned on May 1, 2012, said Fedishyn.

He said that wholesale markets in Kharkiv and Chernihiv are expected to open in July next year.

Fedishyn also reported that the wholesale markets of Stolychny (Kyiv) and Khaziayin (Donetsk) have recently joined the Central European Initiative Wholesale Markets Foundation (CEI WMF).

"Membership in the foundation allows one to obtain the experience of a European food market, [and allows] the training of professional staff," the association head said.

As reported, the state targeted program for the creation of wholesale agricultural markets, which foresees the creation of 25 markets in Ukraine in 2009-2013, was approved under government resolution No. 562 of June 3, 2009.

The total amount of funds needed for the program’s implementation is estimated at Hr 4 billion, including Hr 1.2 billion from the national budget.

As part of the state program’s implementation, the first stage of the Stolychny wholesale agricultural market (Kyiv) was commissioned in July 2011. Currently the Shuvar market (Lviv) and the Khaziayin market (Donetsk) also operate.