Partners news

Thursday, November 8

Betting on movies, Multiplex-Holding plans to increase its Ukraine theaters by almost 20% in the next 12 months Betting on movies, Multiplex-Holding plans to increase its Ukraine theaters by almost 20% in the next 12 months, Interfax-Ukraine reports. The company will add five theater complexes, with about 40 sc...

During the first half of this year, tourists visits by Ukraine’s neighbors were down: During the first half of this year, tourists visits by Ukraine’s neighbors were down: Hungary — down 26% yoy to 447,400; Romania – down 11% to 355,000; and Slovakia – down 10% to 152,000.

Visits to Ukraine from non-border countries were up: Visits to Ukraine from non-border countries were up: Spain – up 104.5% to 19,700; Britain up 62% to 57,200; Israel – up 26 % to 125,700; Lithuania – up 20% to 41,000; Turkey – up 16%...

Overall, the number of foreign tourists was down 1.7% yoy, to 6.22 million people Overall, the number of foreign tourists was down 1.7% yoy, to 6.22 million people, the Economic Development Ministry reports, citing State Border Service data. Generally, tourists who travel by plane ...

With Lviv tourism booming, the City Council has decided to build a new attraction With Lviv tourism booming, the City Council has decided to build a new attraction in the northern part of the city: an 800 meter gondola from Na Valakh park to Castle Hill park, UNIAN reports. Constru...

Louis Dreyfus Company, one of the world’s largest food traders, “plans to significantly increase its investment in Ukraine in the coming years,” Louis Dreyfus Company, one of the world’s largest food traders, “plans to significantly increase its investment in Ukraine in the coming years,” President Poroshenko’s press service reported after the...

Turkey and Ukraine are in 96% percent agreement on their free trade pact Turkey and Ukraine are in 96% percent agreement on their free trade pact, President Poroshenko tells Turkey’s Anadolu news agency. For Turkey, the sticking point is imports of Ukrainian farm products....

With work growing on new foreign investment, CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang has unveiled a major renovation of its Kyiv office With work growing on new foreign investment, CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang has unveiled a major renovation of its Kyiv office on Volodomyrska Street. “As regards client activity, we have been re...

After Russia blocked supplies of anthracite coal to DTEK’s power plant in government-controlled Luhansk, the plant switched this week to gas. After Russia blocked supplies of anthracite coal to DTEK’s power plant in government-controlled Luhansk, the plant switched this week to gas. The coal used to come from DTEK’s mines, 70km away, in the...

By doubling the Khmelnitskyi Nuclear Power Plant, Ukraine can become a major electricity exporter to Poland and Hungary, boosting Ukraine’s GDP by 6-7% By doubling the Khmelnitskyi Nuclear Power Plant, Ukraine can become a major electricity exporter to Poland and Hungary, boosting Ukraine’s GDP by 6-7%, estimates Hans Schweickardt, Vice-Chair of the ...

First time sales of electric cars nearly doubled though October First time sales of electric cars nearly doubled though October, hitting 4,214, Ukravtoprom, the carmakers association reports. With used cars accounting for 85% of sales, electric vehicles now accoun...

Wednesday, November 7

The first ‘big’ privatization – of Centrenergo – is to take place on Dec. 13. The first ‘big’ privatization – of Centrenergo – is to take place on Dec. 13. Next year, 10 other major state companies are to be put up for auction. To get these companies in shape for sale, the Stat...

By the end of next week, the first four of 30 oil and gas lots up for auction will be announced By the end of next week, the first four of 30 oil and gas lots up for auction will be announced by the State Geology and Subsoil Service. The electronic auctions are to be held through next spring. In...

“Ukraine’s ‘brains, hands and grains’ attract investors,” headlines a survey of Ukraine funds in the Financial Times. “Ukraine’s ‘brains, hands and grains’ attract investors,” headlines a survey of Ukraine funds in the Financial Times. Written by Yuri Bender, a veteran reporter on Ukraine, the story cites Andre...

Construction costs are up 24% through September Construction costs are up 24% through September, compared to the first nine months of last year, reports the State Statistics Service. General inflation is 9% this year. Last year, construction costs ...

BM Bank, a subsidiary of Russia’s VTB Bank, is the latest small bank to close in Ukraine BM Bank, a subsidiary of Russia’s VTB Bank, is the latest small bank to close in Ukraine. On Tuesday, the National Bank of Ukraine revoked the bank’s licenses. Today, there are 78 banks in Ukraine abo...

Switzerland has extradited to Ukraine Mykola Huta, former CEO and majority shareholder of Mriya. Switzerland has extradited to Ukraine Mykola Huta, former CEO and majority shareholder of Mriya. Wanted for massive fraud in the $1 billion Mriya collapse, Huta has been under house arrest in Switzerl...

With world sugar prices barely half their peaks of two years ago, Ukraine’s sugar beet industry is contracting. With world sugar prices barely half their peaks of two years ago, Ukraine’s sugar beet industry is contracting. In the marketing year that ended in August, sugar exports were down 27% yoy, to 560,400 ...

By 2025, Kharkiv’s IT industry will double in size to $1.8 billion By 2025, Kharkiv’s IT industry will double in size to $1.8 billion, PricewaterhouseCoopers forecasts in a new report, ‘Kharkiv IT Research.’ Calling Ukraine’s second largest city, “a massive outsourci...

Pressuring the Rada to put $100 million in the 2019 budget to repave Dnipro airport’s runway Pressuring the Rada to put $100 million in the 2019 budget to repave Dnipro airport’s runway, Oleksandr Yaroslavsky gave journalists a press tour Tuesday of Kharkiv’s terminal. In 2011, Yaroslavsky in...

Yaroslavsky, who owns metal companies in Dnipro, has promised to invest $107 million to build a new Dnipro terminal Yaroslavsky, who owns metal companies in Dnipro, has promised to invest $107 million to build a new Dnipro terminal — if Kyiv rebuilds the landing strip. “This is the last season when the [Dnipr...

Israel and Ukraine will sign their free trade agreement by the end of this month, Israel and Ukraine will sign their free trade agreement by the end of this month, Prime Minister Groysman writes on Facebook following his meeting Tuesday in Kyiv with Israel’s new ambassador Joel Lyo...

Japan Credit Bureau, the largest payment system in Japan, plans to expand to Ukraine next year Japan Credit Bureau, the largest payment system in Japan, plans to expand to Ukraine next year, reports the National Bank of Ukraine. Takashi Suetsugu, Moscow-based general director of JCB Internation...

First time sales of imported used cars are up 90% through October First time sales of imported used cars are up 90% through October, compared to the same 10 months of last year. With 83,900 cars sold, used cars account for 62% of imports sold this year, the first ti...

Flexing their political muscle, owners of used cars imported from the EU plan to block traffic in Kyiv Flexing their political muscle, owners of used cars imported from the EU plan to block traffic in Kyiv Wednesday morning, first in front of the Infrastructure Ministry, then in front of the Rada. With...

An X-ray of the ‘small’ privatizations shows that in the first 90 days, 62% of purchases were for real estate and 40% were in Lviv region An X-ray of the ‘small’ privatizations shows that in the first 90 days, 62% of purchases were for real estate and 40% were in Lviv region. On average, there were two bidders for each state owned prope...

Tuesday, November 6

Naftogaz meets this week with investors in London and New York in a roadshow designed to place up to $1 billion of 5-year Eurobonds. Naftogaz meets this week with investors in London and New York in a roadshow designed to place up to $1 billion of 5-year Eurobonds. In advance, Fitch Ratings gave the bonds a preliminary rating of B-...

Fitch has upgraded its rating of Ukrzaliznytsya to B-, with a stable outlook Fitch has upgraded its rating of Ukrzaliznytsya to B-, with a stable outlook. The upgrade from CCC to Ukraine’s level was due to the removal of Donetsk Railway debt from a cross default due to the gov...

British and American investors bought most of Ukraine’s recent $2 billion Eurobond issue. British and American investors bought most of Ukraine’s recent $2 billion Eurobond issue. British investors bought 41% of the 5-year bonds and 46% of the 10-year bonds, reports Ukraine’s Finance Minis...

Ukraine’s foreign reserves decreased by 11% — $2 billion – through Nov. 1 Ukraine’s foreign reserves decreased by 11% — $2 billion – through Nov. 1, reports the Nati onal Bank of Ukraine. A turnaround came last week, with receipt of the $2 billion from the Eurobond pl...

Valeria Gontareva, governor of the National Bank of Ukraine from June 2014 to May 2017, is now a fellow at the Institute of Global Affairs of the London School of Economics Valeria Gontareva, governor of the National Bank of Ukraine from June 2014 to May 2017, is now a fellow at the Institute of Global Affairs of the London School of Economics. Based in London, she consu...

About one third of major rail freight customers are ready to buy locomotives and run their own trains About one third of major rail freight customers are ready to buy locomotives and run their own trains, according to a survey by the Ukrainian Logistics Alliance. In the survey, two thirds said poor fr...

In a first step toward building 200 MW of solar plants in southern Ukraine by 2020 In a first step toward building 200 MW of solar plants in southern Ukraine by 2020, Vasily Khmelnitsky’s UDP Renewables has commissioned an 18.3 MW plant in Henichesk, Kherson. Located near the Sea of...

Black Sea gas could make Romania one of Europe’s largest gas producers in the 2020s Black Sea gas could make Romania one of Europe’s largest gas producers in the 2020s, says the nation’s Energy Minister, Anton Anton, according to Ukrinform. A decade ago, Romania and Ukraine agreed on...

ViOil more than doubled its production of canola oil, to 33,000 tons this season ViOil more than doubled its production of canola oil, to 33,000 tons this season, reports the Vinnytsia-based farm group. More than half of the production was sent to China, Bogdan Koroviy, ViOil head...

Saudi Arabia’s SALIC has completed its purchase of Mriya group`s Ukrainian farming assets Saudi Arabia’s SALIC has completed its purchase of Mriya group`s Ukrainian farming assets. The sales price was not made public. After completion of the harvest, Mriya and SALIC’s Continental Farmers G...

In a leading indicator of business activity, sales of new commercial vehicles are up 13% through October In a leading indicator of business activity, sales of new commercial vehicles are up 13% through October, compared to the same 10 months last year, reports Ukravtoprom, the vehicle industry associatio...

China-Ukraine trade is up by 21% through August, China-Ukraine trade is up by 21% through August, to $5.8 billion, tweets the Economic Development and Trade ministry. At this rate, bilateral trade this year will be near $8.7 billion. If growth rates...

In Shanghai, Ukrainian executives are to meet with executives of Huawei, ZTE telecom, Pacific Construction Group, Bohai Commodity Exchange. In Shanghai, Ukrainian executives are to meet with executives of Huawei, ZTE telecom, Pacific Construction Group, Bohai Commodity Exchange. In Beijing, there will be meetings with the China Council fo...

Final hurdles in the Turkey-Ukraine free trade agreement will be decided by the two countries’ ministers of economy and trade Final hurdles in the Turkey-Ukraine free trade agreement will be decided by the two countries’ ministers of economy and trade, Hennadiy Zubko, deputy prime minister, told Ukrinform in Istanbul. Referr...

Monday, November 5

Azeri construction company AzVirt LLC, has signed a 2-year, $150 million contract to repair and rebuild 80 km of the M-01, the main highway from Kyiv to Belarus. Azeri construction company AzVirt LLC, has signed a 2-year, $150 million contract to repair and rebuild 80 km of the M-01, the main highway from Kyiv to Belarus. AzVirt will work on the largely 4-lane...

With Egypt often ranking as Ukraine’s second largest wheat market With Egypt often ranking as Ukraine’s second largest wheat market, the port administrations of Ukraine, Alexandria and Damietta Egypt are creating a working group to raise cargo turnover above today’s...

US Energy Secretary Rick Perry comes to Kyiv this week to push for more Ukrainian purchases of American coal US Energy Secretary Rick Perry comes to Kyiv this week to push for more Ukrainian purchases of American coal. He will visit Centrenergro’s Trypilska thermal power plant, located 45 km south of Kyiv. L...

Shipment of Russian gas through Ukraine to the EU is dipping below 50% the pipeline’s capacity, Shipment of Russian gas through Ukraine to the EU is dipping below 50% the pipeline’s capacity, according to January to October figures from Ukrtransgaz. So far this year, gas transmission is down 7% ...

An IMF team is in Kyiv through Friday to review the 2019 draft budget. An IMF team is in Kyiv through Friday to review the 2019 draft budget. Approval of the budget with a deficit of 2.5% of GDP is a requirement for IMF board approval of a new 14-month stand-by program o...

Third quarter GDP growth slowed to 3.1% in annual terms, down from 3.8% in the second quarter Third quarter GDP growth slowed to 3.1% in annual terms, down from 3.8% in the second quarter, reports the National Bank of Ukraine. Low grain prices and rail freight bottlenecks pulled down growth. O...

Labor migration will shift slightly from Poland to Germany and the Czech Republic as workers seek higher wages Labor migration will shift slightly from Poland to Germany and the Czech Republic as workers seek higher wages, predicts the National Bank of Ukraine. “Labor migration to other European countries, suc...

Exports of iron, steel and ferroalloys through September hit $10.6 billion, up 12% Exports of iron, steel and ferroalloys through September hit $10.6 billion, up 12% over the first nine months of last year, reports the State Statistics Service.

Through September, Interpipe’s pipe production was up 21% yoy, to 581,900 tons Through September, Interpipe’s pipe production was up 21% yoy, to 581,900 tons, Interfax-Ukraine reports. or 20.8% more yoy. Through September, the company’s steel production was up 14%, to 738,000 to...

Through October, Metinvest’s Zaporizhstal increased the production of rolled steel products by 10% yoy Through October, Metinvest’s Zaporizhstal increased the production of rolled steel products by 10% yoy, to nearly 3 million tons. During the same 10 months, steel production was up 5% – up to 3....