President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko has signed laws "On Amending the Customs Code of Ukraine on State Support for Cinematography in Ukraine" and "On Amending the Tax Code of Ukraine on State Support for Cinematography in Ukraine."

These laws were signed by the president with representatives of national television and movie industry, the presidential press service reported.

Poroshenko noted that the given amendments were the continuation of support for the production of national films for the development of the industry and the integration of Ukraine into the world cinema space. He reminded that in spring, the Law "On State Support to Cinematography in Ukraine" was adopted, the effect of which has already given specific results.

"Today we can state that this law has already given specific practical results. If in 2013 the number of viewers who went to the cinema to watch Ukrainian movies equaled about 190,000 a year. This year we expect a figure that will significantly exceed a million, and in 2016 it was about 900,000," Poroshenko said.

He reminded that in 2016, 35 new Ukrainian movies were shot and screened.

"This is the largest number since independence. Specific, practical results. Moreover, I have reasons to assert that this year this figure may even be more - we are looking confidently in the future and already laid the foundation for making more than 120 movies," the president added noting that the majority of those movies were patriotic and military-patriotic.

It is the changes to the Tax and Customs Code that will promote further support and development of production of high-quality domestic movies and films, he said.

"Now, I have another Law, even two, aimed at further state support to cinematography. It is also about the abolition of taxation, the lifting of customs duties on equipment imported by cinematographers in order to shoot high-quality, patriotic Ukrainian movies," Poroshenko said.

The documents introduce a five-year exemption from VAT and import duties for goods used in cinematography. Also, VAT benefits are provided for the distribution, demonstration, distribution of national and foreign films voiced in the state language.

"I am glad because of the adoption of laws, because it means that we can ensure effective coordination of the producers, creative intellectuals, the public, the parliament, the government and the president," Poroshenko also said.

The representatives of TV and film industry thanked the president for consistent support of the industry, unprecedented for all years of independence. They expressed conviction that in the future the number of high-quality Ukrainian movies will increase.