KIEV, Sept. 28 – The Ukrainian government has managed to optimize the state budget for 2010 in a short period of time and ensure controls over its deficit, Deputy Prime Minister Serhiy Tyhypko said in Kiev on Tuesday at a conference entitled "Ukraine: Reforms, Competitiveness, Investments," organized by the Ukrainian Foundation for Effective Governance and The Financial Times.

"I'm confident that we'll retain the state budget deficit in 2010 at 4.9% of GDP," he said.

Tyhypko noted that next year the government planned to cut the budget deficit to 3.5% of GDP.