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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...

Friday, December 4

After 12 years of discussion, the Rada yesterday passed a river development bill designed to triple cargo carried on the Dnipro to 30 million tons by 2025. After 12 years of discussion, the Rada yesterday passed a river development bill designed to triple cargo carried on the Dnipro to 30 million tons by 2025. Ships will pass free through river’s six loc...

A revitalised working river will generate an extra $500 million in economic activity A revitalised working river will generate an extra $500 million in economic activity, Infrastructure Minister Vladyslav Krikliy said on his Telegram account. He added that for each 1 million tons of c...

“All over the world, river transportation is the cheapest and most environmentally friendly way of delivering goods “All over the world, river transportation is the cheapest and most environmentally friendly way of delivering goods,” Artem Kovalev, Rada member and chief author of the law, wrote on Facebook. “...

Renewal of the Dnipro is expected to revive two Soviet era economic activities: shipbuilding and river cruise tourism. Renewal of the Dnipro is expected to revive two Soviet era economic activities: shipbuilding and river cruise tourism. Due to global warming, the Dnipro’s ice-free shipping season seems to be expandin...

Ukraine wants to start free trade talks next year with a host of countries, led by its largest trading partner, China, Ukraine wants to start free trade talks next year with a host of countries, led by its largest trading partner, China, Taras Kachka, Ukraine’s Trade Representative, told Evropeiska Pravda. “Currently,...

Ukraine would like to reopen and liberalise the UK-Ukraine agreement that was signed two months ago Ukraine would like to reopen and liberalise the UK-Ukraine agreement that was signed two months ago in London, a rushed deal designed to beat the December 31 Brexit deadline. Also on the list are coun...

Even without a UK-Ukraine trade pact renegotiation, Ukrainian food exporters are showing “great interest” in the expanded duty-free access to the British market Even without a UK-Ukraine trade pact renegotiation, Ukrainian food exporters are showing “great interest” in the expanded duty-free access to the British market, Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba told In...

Helped by cheaper energy import prices, Ukraine’s trade deficit in goods is running at half the level of last year Helped by cheaper energy import prices, Ukraine’s trade deficit in goods is running at half the level of last year, reported the State Customs Service. Through November, the trade deficit was $3.93 bi...

Dragon Capital has acquired Lviv Industrial Park located on a 23.5-hectare land plot on the M10 highway, 60 km east of the Polish border. Dragon Capital has acquired Lviv Industrial Park located on a 23.5-hectare land plot on the M10 highway, 60 km east of the Polish border. Five years ago, CTP, the largest developer and operator of war...

The ban on shopping during three weekends in November cost Ukrainian shopping malls about $250 million The ban on shopping during three weekends in November cost Ukrainian shopping malls about $250 million, the Ukrainian Council of Shopping Centers told Interfax-Ukraine. The 30-40% drop in weekend sale...

“Business without Barriers” is a movement promoted by First Lady Olena Zelenska “Business without Barriers” is a movement promoted by First Lady Olena Zelenska to reduce the physical and psychological barriers that prevent people with disabilities from participating in the work f...

DTEK says that almost 3,000 of its 70,000 employees have disabilities DTEK says that almost 3,000 of its 70,000 employees have disabilities, “We are actively introducing the best services for our clients so that our services are as accessible as possible,” says DTEK CEO...

Thursday, December 3

Kyiv’s autumn (September-November) was the warmest since local record keeping started in 1881 Kyiv’s autumn (September-November) was the warmest since local record keeping started in 1881, reports Ukrinform. “The calendar autumn is over but the meteorological winter has not come yet,” reports ...

Ukrainians can look forward to a normal shopping this weekend and, probably through Friday December 25, Catholic Christmas. Ukrainians can look forward to a normal shopping this weekend and, probably through Friday December 25, Catholic Christmas. Prime Minister Shmygal said November’s weekend shopping bans had cut the spr...

Yesterday morning, 13,141 new cases were announced, down from a daily average of 16,500 late last week. Yesterday morning, 13,141 new cases were announced, down from a daily average of 16,500 late last week. However, in Kyiv Mayor Klitschko said yesterday that a record 1,735 new coronavirus cases had be...

With a big budget funding gap looming, Ukraine may tap the international Eurobond market for up $1 billion in short term financing With a big budget funding gap looming, Ukraine may tap the international Eurobond market for up $1 billion in short term financing, Prime Minister Shmygal told the Korrespondent news site. He asserts ...

Timothy Ash writes from London Timothy Ash writes from London: “Surprised it took them so long given the strength of global beta which has seen Ukraine’s borrowing costs in the Eurobond market crash 200bps lower over the past month...

Through October, Ukraine has attracted $221 million in new direct foreign investment — 5% of the $4.5 billion attracted during the first 10 months of last year Through October, Ukraine has attracted $221 million in new direct foreign investment — 5% of the $4.5 billion attracted during the first 10 months of last year, the National Bank of Ukraine reported y...

Corporate raiding — stealing companies through forgeries or force — is up slightly this year compared to last year Corporate raiding — stealing companies through forgeries or force — is up slightly this year compared to last year, reports Ukrinform, citing data from Opendatabot, an online registry. Through October...

Ukrzaliznytsia plans to spend almost $1 billion next year on repairing locomotives, cars, and track — almost three times the money spent this year. Ukrzaliznytsia plans to spend almost $1 billion next year on repairing locomotives, cars, and track — almost three times the money spent this year. As posted on the state railroad’s site, financing wo...

Despite the corona recession, cargo handled by Ukraine’s seaports is up by 1% yoy. Despite the corona recession, cargo handled by Ukraine’s seaports is up by 1% yoy. Through November, the ports handled 146 million tons. Confirming Ukraine’s reliance on exports of raw materials, grai...

Wednesday, December 2

This week’s face to face meetings follow a video conference two months ago This week’s face to face meetings follow a video conference two months ago with the participation of UkrOboronProm executives and Rosas Pontis, who is Brazil’s director of Secretariat for Defense Prod...

Ending a 2-day trip to Turkey yesterday, Prime Minister Shmygal told reporters that his delegation invited Turkish companies to participate in concessions for international highways and for two Black Sea ports. Ending a 2-day trip to Turkey yesterday, Prime Minister Shmygal told reporters that his delegation invited Turkish companies to participate in concessions for international highways and for two Black ...

As Ukraine’s defense partnership with Turkey extends to the air, As Ukraine’s defense partnership with Turkey extends to the air, the air forces of the two nations have discussed the possibility of data exchange “including airspace monitoring” under NATO’s Air Situ...

With Turkish investors interested in buying one quarter of shares of jet engine maker Motor Sich With Turkish investors interested in buying one quarter of shares of jet engine maker Motor Sich, the original Chinese buyers plan to appeal their third rejection by Ukraine’s Antimonopoly Committee. ...

Defying the recession, Ukrzaliznytsia, the nation’s main cargo hauler, carried 7% more freight in November than in November of last year. Defying the recession, Ukrzaliznytsia, the nation’s main cargo hauler, carried 7% more freight in November than in November of last year. Approaching the railroad’s target of 1 million tons a day, UZ ...

The Finance Ministry sold at auction yesterday the hryvnia equivalent of $93 million in government bonds The Finance Ministry sold at auction yesterday the hryvnia equivalent of $93 million in government bonds. The 3-month bond was the most popular, accounting for 74% of sale, the Ministry reported on Fa...

ICU ICU gives this insight into the Nov. 24 auction: “For the first time since the end of February, foreigners’ portfolios rose during a week, albeit by a small amount. The increase amounted to just...

Bolstered by fresh snow, Bukovel, Ukraine’s largest mountain resort, opens this weekend for skiing and snowboarding. Bolstered by fresh snow, Bukovel, Ukraine’s largest mountain resort, opens this weekend for skiing and snowboarding. “We invite you to the Ukrainian Carpathians,” Bukovel director Oleksandr Shev...

Highlighting Ukraine’s emerging role as the EU’s reserve labor pool Highlighting Ukraine’s emerging role as the EU’s reserve labor pool, Ukrainians accounted for 55% of the 1.2 million first time residence permits granted last year to all non-EU citizens for work in t...

The bulk of the 756,548 Ukrainians who got first time residency in the EU last year went to Poland – 79%. The bulk of the 756,548 Ukrainians who got first time residency in the EU last year went to Poland – 79%. Spreading into the Baltics and around Central Europe, Ukrainians accounted for the top nationa...

With cross border traffic expected to rebound this spring, assuming vaccines diminish the coronavirus pandemic, EU nations are helping Ukraine upgrade its often outdated border crossings. With cross border traffic expected to rebound this spring, assuming vaccines diminish the coronavirus pandemic, EU nations are helping Ukraine upgrade its often outdated border crossings. In coming we...

Poland is lending Ukraine €100 million to upgrade the Poland is lending Ukraine €100 million to upgrade the 13 land border crossings between the two nations. The 30-year, low interest loan also will help upgrade Ukraine’s road and rail approaches to the ...

Estonia will help Ukraine install two electronic border crossing systems at two of Ukraine’s busiest land crossings – Chop with Hungary, and Uzhgorod with Slovakia. Estonia will help Ukraine install two electronic border crossing systems at two of Ukraine’s busiest land crossings – Chop with Hungary, and Uzhgorod with Slovakia. Using Estonian experience, the goal...

Brazil and Ukraine, two of the world’s second tier arms exporters, started discussing possible joint ventures yesterday Brazil and Ukraine, two of the world’s second tier arms exporters, started discussing possible joint ventures yesterday, the start of a 5-day visit to Ukraine by executives of 13 from Brazil’s top arm...

Tuesday, December 1

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 ...

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...