YALTA, Oct. 1 - Ukraine is planning to speed up privatization in key economic branches, President Viktor Yanukovych said at the seventh annual meeting of the Yalta European Strategy on Friday.

He said that the issue concerned enterprises operating in the energy sector, chemical industry, engineering, as well as sectors oriented at domestic consumption.

Yanukovych noted that Ukraine was ready to open high-tech areas for investors and cooperate in the sphere of nanotechnology and biotechnology.