Ukraine and Israel will start working on expanding the free trade area (FTA) agreement so that it would include the service sector, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said during a joint briefing held Monday with the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to the president's official website.

"We agreed to start work on expanding the agreement on the services sector without delay," said the Ukrainian head of the state after meeting with the Israeli politician.

According to Netanyahu, the parties also decided on creating high-tech development centers in Jerusalem and Kiev.

"Both Kiev and Jerusalem should open centers for high-tech development. Thus, we will exchange technologies and attract Ukrainians in our high-tech industry, because we will make joint investments in this area here in Ukraine," said the Israeli prime minister.

In July, Ukrainian parliament ratified an international free trade agreement between Ukraine and Israel.

According to the agreement, Israel abolishes about 80 percent of import duties for Ukrainian industrial goods and over 9 percent for agricultural goods. At the same time, Ukraine abolishes about 70 percent of import duties on Israeli industrial products and more than 6 percent for agricultural goods.

The prime minister's visit to Kiev, from Sunday to Monday, is the first by a sitting Israeli prime minister in 20 years.

Netanyahu will take part in a memorial ceremony at Babi Yar, Kiev, the notorious site where tens of thousands of Jews were murdered during World War II. He will also meet with his counterpart Volodymyr Groysman on August 20 and leave Ukraine on the same day.

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