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Tuesday, December 8

Big government spending on infrastructure is singlehandedly pulling the construction sector into positive territory this year Big government spending on infrastructure is singlehandedly pulling the construction sector into positive territory this year, according to analysis by Alfa-Bank Ukraine. Through October, construction...

Overall, the government’s Big Construction’s share of GDP grew from 2.8% in the first quarter, to 10% in the fourth quarter Overall, the government’s Big Construction’s share of GDP grew from 2.8% in the first quarter, to 10% in the fourth quarter, Mikhail Kukhar, chief economist of Ukraine Economic Outlook, said last week...

By the end of this month, the goals of the Big Construction project should be 95% complete, By the end of this month, the goals of the Big Construction project should be 95% complete, Kyrylo Tymoshenko, deputy presidential chief of staff, tells Interfax-Ukraine. The completion scorecard is: ...

Europe’s biggest floating crane is being towed from Istanbul to Zaporizhia to complete the long-delayed bridge over the Dnipro Europe’s biggest floating crane is being towed from Istanbul to Zaporizhia to complete the long-delayed bridge over the Dnipro, reports Ukravtodor. When erect, the crane rises 148 meters — nearly the ...

Since March $518 million in loans have been extended to small businesses, a factor in mitigating the impact of the coronavirus recession Since March $518 million in loans have been extended to small businesses, a factor in mitigating the impact of the coronavirus recession, the Finance Ministry reported yesterday. Under the ‘5-7-9% Loa...

Home mortgage loans, long a rarity in Ukraine, are up 23% yoy, totalling almost $100 million through October Home mortgage loans, long a rarity in Ukraine, are up 23% yoy, totalling almost $100 million through October. The average size is for $26,000, and 87% are for second homes, reports the National Bank o...

By replacing ‘Black Friday’ sales with ‘Black Week’ sales, merchants managed to save what could have been a bleak start to the holiday season By replacing ‘Black Friday’ sales with ‘Black Week’ sales, merchants managed to save what could have been a bleak start to the holiday season, Ukrainian bankers tell Interfax-Ukraine. Charges with Akk...

By contrast, the MOYO chain of electronics stores says it doubled its sales on Black Friday By contrast, the MOYO chain of electronics stores says it doubled its sales on Black Friday. Sales were boosted partly by a 16% increase in stores, to 36, and by keeping one store in Kyiv open around ...

JYSK, which has a chain of 71 furniture stores in Ukraine, recorded a 10% increase in sales in November JYSK, which has a chain of 71 furniture stores in Ukraine, recorded a 10% increase in sales in November compared to last year. Evgeniy Ivanitsa, country director of the Danish-based firm, said this in...

Monday, December 7

Huawei Ukraine is helping the Digital Transformation Ministry open a center Huawei Ukraine is helping the Digital Transformation Ministry open a center “for students and future entrepreneurs” at Kyiv’s Taras Shevchenko National University. “This initiative opens up new opport...

For the first time since Independence, Ukraine’s Defense Ministry is about to order new planes from Antonov For the first time since Independence, Ukraine’s Defense Ministry is about to order new planes from Antonov, Strategic Industries Minister Oleh Urusky tells Radio Svoboda. “A contract will be signed b...

Calling the condition of the state railroad’s freight wagons “catastrophic”, the Cabinet of Ministers has adopted a “program of radical renewal” Calling the condition of the state railroad’s freight wagons “catastrophic”, the Cabinet of Ministers has adopted a “program of radical renewal” — replacing all 63,000 in the state fleet o...

A total renewal of the wagon fleet will generate “billions of Hryvnia of government orders for Ukrainian manufacturers, hundreds of thousands of jobs A total renewal of the wagon fleet will generate “billions of Hryvnia of government orders for Ukrainian manufacturers, hundreds of thousands of jobs, additional GDP growth of 2% per year,” the minist...

Cracking down on overloaded trucks, the National Police checked 75,000 trucks last month Cracking down on overloaded trucks, the National Police checked 75,000 trucks last month, almost four times the number of checks performed in November of last year. So far this year, police have 665,0...

Air cargo through Kyiv-Boryspil is down by only 10% through November Air cargo through Kyiv-Boryspil is down by only 10% through November, compared to the first 11 months of last year. Air cargo dropped to 33,400 tons, Anton Borisyuk, the airport’s strategic developmen...

In a bid to unlock billions of dollars in low interest IMF loans, the Rada restored accountability for false asset declarations, albeit a watered down version. In a bid to unlock billions of dollars in low interest IMF loans, the Rada restored accountability for false asset declarations, albeit a watered down version. Approved Friday, the new bill raised the...

Anti-corruption groups have protested. Anti-corruption groups have protested. President Zelenskiy wrote on Facebook: “It is a pity that the responsibility is still not as tough as we would like.” But he made clear he would sign the comprom...

Ukrainian bonds are among the best performing in emerging markets in the post-US-election rally Ukrainian bonds are among the best performing in emerging markets in the post-US-election rally, reports Tellimer Research. “Sovereign bonds lead the way, tightening 100-150bps in November and outperf...

Russia restarted construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline on Saturday Russia restarted construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline on Saturday, Ukraine’s Hromadske television channel reports, citing a document from the Germany’s Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agen...

Germany’s government sees US sanctions against Nord Stream 2 as illegal and does not predict any change under a Biden administration Germany’s government sees US sanctions against Nord Stream 2 as illegal and does not predict any change under a Biden administration, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas tells Der Spiegel. “”We h...

With Britain apparently heading toward a ‘hard Brexit’ With Britain apparently heading toward a ‘hard Brexit’ three weeks from now, Ukraine is asking the UK to negotiate a bilateral trade deal to lower tariffs. On Friday, Prime Minister Shmygal asked UK A...

Representatives of over 100 Ukrainian companies took part remotely in a China-Ukraine investment fair, hosted in Beijing Representatives of over 100 Ukrainian companies took part remotely in a China-Ukraine investment fair, hosted in Beijing, reports china.org.cnnews site With almost 300 Chinese and Ukrainian business a...

Tuesday, December 1

With the Democrats returning to power in the White House With the Democrats returning to power in the White House, David Arakhamia, head of the Servant of the People Rada faction, hopes that Joe Biden will resume an Obama era practice of extending US guaran...

Ukraine’s faces a bulge in repayments next fall, and Arakhamia tells Interfax-Ukraine that he hopes a Biden Administration will roll over the $1 billion bond coming due in September. “ Ukraine’s faces a bulge in repayments next fall, and Arakhamia tells Interfax-Ukraine that he hopes a Biden Administration will roll over the $1 billion bond coming due in September. “We hope that wit...

“ “No IMF funding for Ukraine until Zelenskiy earns trust,” headlines a stinging critique of the Zelenskiy government by Anders Aslund, the Swedish-American economist who has been watching Ukraine for 3...

The Zelenskiy administration’s effort to get back on track with the IMF hit an unexpected bump when The Zelenskiy administration’s effort to get back on track with the IMF hit an unexpected bump when Oleg Tatarov, deputy head of the administration, said Saturday that the National Anti-Corruption Bur...

The Anti-Corruption Bureau was created with Western advice and financing. The Anti-Corruption Bureau was created with Western advice and financing. Ukrainian officials have repeatedly assured the IMF that it will be retained. Two weeks ago, Zelenskiy met with G7 ambassadors...

Ten Turkish and Ukrainian construction companies have applied to take part in the $200 million rebuild of Dnipro airport Ten Turkish and Ukrainian construction companies have applied to take part in the $200 million rebuild of Dnipro airport, reports Kyrill Khomyakov, head of Ukrinfraproekt, the State Agency for Infrast...

Controlled by the Ihor Kolmoisky group, Dnipro airport has languished Controlled by the Ihor Kolmoisky group, Dnipro airport has languished, recording Ukraine’s 7th largest volume of passengers last year. In 2019, Dnipro handled 338,888 passengers, sandwiched between Za...

In Switzerland, airplane pilots who are unable to fly during the coronavirus pandemic may soon retrain to become train drivers. In Switzerland, airplane pilots who are unable to fly during the coronavirus pandemic may soon retrain to become train drivers. With the support of Aeropers, the nation’s main union for cockpit employ...

In Berlin, DHL has painted its trademark yellow and red colors on 10 idle tour buses and converted them into ‘paketbussen.’ In Berlin, DHL has painted its trademark yellow and red colors on 10 idle tour buses and converted them into ‘paketbussen.’ The parcel buses, including six double deckers, will receive and deliver pac...

China has roared ahead of Russia to account for twice as much of Ukraine’s trade this year China has roared ahead of Russia to account for twice as much of Ukraine’s trade this year, reports the State Statistics Service. For this year through August, China-Ukraine two-way trade totaled $9.4...

DHL will create “a powerful logistics center” in Kyiv’s left bank Liski rail hub for container trains going to and from China DHL will create “a powerful logistics center” in Kyiv’s left bank Liski rail hub for container trains going to and from China, Ukrzaliznytsia CEO Volodomyr Zhmak writes of a memorandum of cooperation ...

In “ In “U.S., Russia Race to Outflank Each Other on Russian Pipeline,” Wall Street Journal reporter Brett Forrest recounts the down to the wire race to stop the Nord Stream 2 trans-Baltic gas pipeline, a ...

A bounty of mushrooms flowed out of Ukraine’s forests this fall, reports The New York Times A bounty of mushrooms flowed out of Ukraine’s forests this fall, reports The New York Times, citing unusual weather: “a dry summer followed by an unusually warm fall and late first frost.” In “I Have ...

Tuesday, August 25

Mykolaiv’s shipbuilding industry is to be revived with a government program designed to create 25,000 new jobs Mykolaiv’s shipbuilding industry is to be revived with a government program designed to create 25,000 new jobs, President Zelenskiy and David Arakhamia, leader of the Servant of the People Rada, promi...

The government promises “a national program to support shipbuilding, cheaper credit resources,” The government promises “a national program to support shipbuilding, cheaper credit resources,” Arakhamia said. Later on Friday, Oleh Uruskyi, Minister for Strategic Industries visited the Okean shipy...

Business education for combat veterans and soft loans for veteran-owned startups are government priorities Business education for combat veterans and soft loans for veteran-owned startups are government priorities, President Zelenskiy said during an International Volunteer and Veterans Forum in Kyiv. “It&#...

With the minimum monthly wage set to rise to $182 (UAH 5,000) next Tuesday, Zelenskiy says the budget can “definitely support” the hike With the minimum monthly wage set to rise to $182 (UAH 5,000) next Tuesday, Zelenskiy says the budget can “definitely support” the hike. On July 1, the minimum wage is to increase by 30%, to UAH 6,500...

Grain sales were down 18% yoy in July, Grain sales were down 18% yoy in July, reports UNIAN citing the Ministry of Economic Development, Trade and Agriculture. Due to bad weather, much of the harvest is late.

Steelmaker ArcelorMittal has transferred 50 million tons of slag to the government for the national road construction program Steelmaker ArcelorMittal has transferred 50 million tons of slag to the government for the national road construction program, reports Interfax-Ukraine, citing the company. Earlier this year, Arcelor ...

Interpipe, Ukraine’s largest pipe and wheel producer, will redeem at par 97 million of its 2024 notes this week Interpipe, Ukraine’s largest pipe and wheel producer, will redeem at par 97 million of its 2024 notes this week, according to the company.

IKEA Ukraine plans to offer 5,000 items in its first physical store in Kyiv IKEA Ukraine plans to offer 5,000 items in its first physical store in Kyiv, says Florian Melle, Ukraine director of Ikea. He said: “A city-format store will open in Kyiv without a food department and...

Energy traders imported 345,000 megawatts of electricity in the first quarter of 2020 Energy traders imported 345,000 megawatts of electricity in the first quarter of 2020, reports NERC. The imported electricity was from Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Belarus.

New car imports are down 36% y-o-y New car imports are down 36% y-o-y, reports Ukrinform citing Ukravtoprom. The average value of an imported new car is $19,300. Japanese vehicles are the most popular.

Passenger transport is down 56.2% y-o-y Passenger transport is down 56.2% y-o-y, reports the State Statistics Service. Rail was down 58.2%. Motor transport was down by 44.3%.

There have been no combat losses in the eastern regions for the past 29 days There have been no combat losses in the eastern regions for the past 29 days, Zelenskiy said during his Independence Day speech. “A year ago, I talked about how every morning starts with an SMS messag...

The IMF has yet to set a date for the review of the Standby Agreement, a review that was to be in September. The IMF has yet to set a date for the review of the Standby Agreement, a review that was to be in September. IMF Ukraine representative Goesta Ljungman tells Hromadske that while “discussions on the i...

Ukraine received in June a first $2.1 billion tranche Ukraine received in June a first $2.1 billion tranche of what is to be a $5 billion loan program.

Prime Minister Shmygal says he expects Ukraine will receive the second tranche by the end of this year Prime Minister Shmygal says he expects Ukraine will receive the second tranche by the end of this year. Some economic analysts say the IMF switched to observation mode after President Zelenskiy unexpe...