Director for Agribusiness of the EBRD Gilles Mettetal: “Having a desire to invest, I would not invest in the agricultural sector of Ukraine, taking into account the conditions prevailing. I would invest in Brazil, which demonstrates the development of market economy principles”   Gilles Mettetal holds the position of Director for Agribusiness department of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development since 2006. Under his leadership, the agricultural sector was the second most important direction of the EBRD financing in Ukraine. Today the EBRD has provided direct funding in the amount of 1.3 billion Euros in agribusiness sector of Ukraine within more than 60 projects (which is 17% of the total investment in the economy of our country).   Today, Gilles Mettetal makes enormous efforts to develop the agricultural sector of Ukraine and to strengthen positions of our country in the world market. An example of this is repeated participation of the Director for Agribusiness department of the EBRD in important for Ukrainian agriculture activities.   Thus, on the 28th of October, 2010 a round table chaired by Gilles Mettetal with participation of the EBRD and the key grain market participants, including Ukrainian, among them – “NIBULON” was held in London, the subject of the meeting was the current situation and prospects of grain market in different countries, including the issues of Ukrainian export of agricultural production, the issue of openness in the grain market.   On the 27th of January, 2011 Gilles Mettetal initiated and participated in a roundtable meeting “Development of a Dialog in the Grain Sector and Prospects for Investment”, that was organized by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Minister of Agricultural Policy and Food of Ukraine, representatives of the EBRD, World Bank, IMF, FAO Investment Centre and about 100 representatives of leading companies of the grain sector of Ukraine, including “NIBULON” took part in the event.   On the 16th of March, 2011 Gilles Mettetal participated in the III International Conference “Agribusiness in Ukraine” in Kiev, where he expressed opinion that international organizations (the EBRD, IMF, World Bank, International Finance Corporation) today believe “that reforms in Ukraine should be market-oriented, not monopoly-oriented.”   Here is part of the speech of Gilles Mettetal at the III International Forum “Agribusiness in Ukraine-2011”, 16th of  March 2011, Kyiv:   “The only source of investments in agriculture of Ukraine from which the necessary capital can come is the private sector.Not a state or international organizations will invest, but namely business, investors from the private sector.   Having the desire to invest money, I would not [now] invest in the agricultural sector of Ukraine, given the conditions prevailing in Ukraine. I would invest in Brazil, which demonstrates the development of market economy principles.   Ukraine has powerful companies of both international and national level and we will continue to support them. It is companies like “NIBULON” that work transparently and predictably, show results and competitiveness. They invest in agriculture.   Situation [now] in Ukraine reminds of the battle, but it is worth to participate. International organizations (EBRD, IMF, World Bank, International Finance Corporation) will together convey the idea that reforms in Ukraine should be market-oriented rather than monopoly-oriented. We addressed a joint appeal against the law on the export monopoly to the Prime Minister and we will continue to send such letters to state institutions.   I would suggest Ukrainian authority to look at the work of farmers. Farmers know how to cut a tree to make it grow faster and give more fruit. If you cut it completely, it will never grow and give birth. I’d like farmers’ experience to be considered, creating conditions for private sector for investment and growth of the industry.”