KYIV, Sept 8 - Ukrainian authorities are planning to issue government bonds for UAH 20 billion ($748 million at the current exchange rate) for the development of mortgage, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal has said.

"After the completion of the merger [of the State Mortgage Institution and Ukrfinzhytlo], we are preparing a bond issue worth about UAH 20 billion so that mortgage programs are available to as many Ukrainians as possible," he said during a government meeting.