On 22nd of December the session of the Board on Special Economic Zones and Special Mode of Investment Activity in Donetsk region was held in Donetsk. At the session there have been reviewed and approved the new investment projects and the results of two years' work have been summed up.

On the eve of that event the Prime-Minister of Ukraine, V.A. Ushchenko, paid a visit to Donetsk. He visited the enterprise "Cargil" and Donetsk Metallurgical Plant where he had an opportunity to make sure of the high efficiency of investment projects for these territories.

Having studied the production data of the enterprises receiving privileges in the course of investment activity, Viktor Andreyevich saw in SEZ and TPD of Donetsk region the effective remedy for economic recovery of the region. He stated that the Donetsk experience must be studied and adopted by the other territories of Ukraine.

It is known that the main argument of the opponents of the SEZ is their supposition that the budget suffers from the loses because of preferential tax treatment implemented for those enterprises which are realizing their investment projects. Actually, according to the results of the work of the investment projects in the Donetsk region for the period of 11 months of the 2000 year the enterprises received the privileges to the sum of 202,3 mln. UAH, and in return they transferred to the budget 210,4 mln. UAH. In prospect, when the phase of building has been completed, the ratio of the sum of the enterprises' privileges to the sum of state incomes will be on the average 1 : 4. In some certain projects this coefficient will be even higher.

The concluding session was the most fruitful - there have been reviewed 20 investment projects to the sum of 439 mln. UAH (approximately 80 mln. USD).

Summarizing the achievements of SEZ and DTP in the Donetsk region for this elapsing year, Chairman of Donetsk Oblast' Administration, V.F. Yanukovich, noted that Donetsk SEZ meet the new year, the new century, and the new millennium with great optimism - more than 120 projects to the sum of about 800 mln USD were approved for realization in the region. The investments come to the region from 23 countries of the world. At present, due to the realization of the 48 projects, there has been already organized the output of production and the products produced to the sum of 1 mlrd. 700 mln. UAH.