Financial sector news

The IMF Budget Department mission, which worked in Vienna in early November and supports the Ministry of Finance and the State Customs Service in implementing the customs components of the National Revenue Strategy until 2030, analyzed the progress of reforms and assessed their actual progress.

The main focus was on the implementation of planned measures, in particular the introduction of a staff rotation mechanism, the improvement of personnel policy, and the development of an internal audit system.
Leading IMF experts joined the mission. Ukraine was represented by Oleksandr Moskalenko, Director of the Customs Policy Department of the Ministry of Finance, Serhiy Zvyagintsev, Acting Head of the State Customs Service, his deputy Vladyslav Suvorov, as well as specialists in human resources management and internal audit.
According to the Fund's assessment, the State Customs Service is making significant progress in implementing previous recommendations—40% of the measures provided for in the Reform Plan until 2030 have now been implemented.

Notable results include:

• preparation of the Change Management Concept and draft communication strategy;
  
  
• adoption of a Human Resources Management Strategy and modernization of personnel policy, including the introduction of a competency-based approach, rotation, and three-year contracts;
  
  
• creation of conditions for the effective operation of internal control and audit systems.
  

At the same time, the mission outlined further priorities that will allow the pace of transformation to be maintained. Recommendations include updating key customs clearance performance indicators in line with international standards, developing a modern rotation policy that takes into account anti-corruption tools and risk classification, as well as finalizing strategic documents and forming tactical communication plans.

IMF representatives emphasized that the Ministry of Finance and the State Customs Service remain consistent in implementing the National Revenue Strategy for 2024–2030. The next key steps include the adoption of a new Customs Code, granting customs the status of a law enforcement agency, and the implementation of legislative and IT solutions that meet EU standards.