Large business, as the basis of the export economy, should become a priority direction of the state's security policy during war: companies expect from the authorities, first of all, security guarantees, predictable tariff and tax policies, as well as support in solving the personnel crisis.

Yulia Dankova, financial director of Metinvest Group, spoke about this.

According to Dankova, the growth in tax revenues to the budget is not associated with an improvement in the financial results of large businesses: “The dynamics of the financial indicators of our group are definitely not positive. The growth in tax revenues is associated with an increase in the military tax rate from 1.5% to 5%, indexation of resource taxes, land payments, etc.. " She also noted that in 2024 Metinvest paid UAH 19.8 billion in taxes and fees in Ukraine - this is 36% more than in 2023. The company expects to maintain approximately this level, despite the shutdown of some capacity.

The key task for the state, according to Dankova, is to ensure security - both physical and investment.

" For the state, large business should be a priority in security policy, since it is large business that builds the basis for the development of small and medium-sized enterprises and a strong economy,” emphasized the CFO of Metinvest..

Another priority for the state should be a stable and predictable tariff policy of state monopolies, Dankova noted: now, for example, Ukrzaliznytsia practices shifting losses from passenger transportation to freight tariffs, while in developed countries social services are compensated through public service obligations, and not at the expense of private business. And the Inguletsky GOK is not operating due to high tariffs for electricity transmission - this also creates the risk of shutting down other enterprises, and then a drop in tax revenues.

Another critical block is personnel policy and labor shortage: according to Metinvest’s CFO, there is a shortage of both qualified specialists and working personnel, and the personnel shortage at enterprises reaches 20%. She connects this with mobilization, population migration and the deterioration of the situation with the training of qualified personnel, emphasizing that business independently integrates mobilized workers, but expects support from the state. However, despite the risks and military conditions, Metinvest continues to invest in Ukrainian and foreign projects. But the implementation of these plans directly depends on whether the state makes big business a priority in its security, tariff and personnel policies, the financial director concluded.

As you know, Rinat Akhmetov’s Metinvest company is in the top ten in the ranking of the largest private taxpayers in Ukraine:

since the beginning of the war, it has already transferred more than UAH 70 billion to the budgets of all levels in Ukraine. The company is also included in the rating of the largest investors in Ukraine: annually the company invests 12 billion in investment projects. In addition, since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the company has provided Ukraine with 9.7 billion UAH of assistance, of which 5.2 billion UAH to support the Ukrainian Armed Forces as part of the Steel Front initiative..