” mac returns », welcomed Dmytro Kuleba, the Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs on Facebook. He was referring to McDonald’s decision to gradually reopen some of its restaurants in Ukraine.
” We have decided to put in place a phased plan to reopen some restaurants in Kyiv and western Ukraine, where other businesses have safely reopened », announced this Thursday, the American fast food giant, in a letter from CEO Paul Pomroy, sent to employees. Its establishments on Ukrainian soil had all been closed following the invasion of the country by the Russian army on February 24. The brand has also closed, this time permanently, its restaurants in Russia. As a result, the group’s net profit fell 46% to $1.2 billion in the second quarter of 2022.
The McDonald’s teams will therefore, ” over the next few months », start working with suppliers, but also prepare stores, ” bringing restaurant teams and employees back to the site ». They will also work on ” implement enhanced procedures and protocols to ensure the safety of our staff and customers ».
” Working in Ukraine despite the war »
According to the group, this decision was made ” after extensive consultations and discussions with Ukrainian officials, suppliers and security specialists, and in view of the demand for our employees to return to work ». ” We spoke at length to our employees who expressed a strong desire to return to work and see our restaurants in Ukraine reopen, where it is safe and responsible to do so. »specifies the boss of McDonald’s. ” In recent months, the belief that this would support a small but important sense of normalcy has grown stronger. And Ukrainian officials have indicated that businesses resuming operations will support the local economy and the people of Ukraine. »he added.
A feeling shared by the authorities of the country. Dmytro Kuleba indeed hailed ” the return of a great American company » as being ” above all a signal for international companies about the possibility of working in Ukraine, despite the war »did he declare. ” These are workplaces, taxes for Ukraine’s budget and the survival of our economy in times of Russian aggression. It is also part of Ukraine’s recovery »underlined the Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Two-year moratorium on foreign debt
Another measure announced on Wednesday evening, intended to support the country’s economy: Prime Minister Denys Chmygal indicated that Ukraine had obtained from its international creditors a two-year moratorium on its external debt, estimated at 20 billion of dollars. ” Investors in Ukraine’s external debt have agreed to delay payments until 2024. This allows Ukraine to maintain macro-financial stability and strengthen economic viability »he welcomed on Twitter. ” We are grateful to the investors for accepting our proposal. Thanks to the solidarity with Ukraine shown by the community of private investors and the official public sector, we will be able to meet the needs of the Ukrainian population », for his part abounded the Minister of Finance, Serguiï Marchenko, quoted in a press release. A group of Western creditors including France, the United States, Germany, Japan and the United Kingdom had agreed on July 20 to a postponement of interest payments on the Ukrainian debt after a request from kyiv, urging other bondholders to do the same.
(With AFP)
