On March 11, farms in the Chernivtsi region began planting early potatoes to be grown under agrofibre, the press service of the Chernivtsi Regional Military Administration reported on Facebook.
“Thanks to favorable weather conditions, farms in the Vyzhnytsia region are planting potatoes of the ultra-early Riviera variety, though under agrofibre,” the post reads.
According to the Chernivtsi Regional State Administration, the region’s annual gross production of potatoes is more than 650 thousand tons, and vegetable crops – more than 250 thousand tons. The main producers of vegetables and potatoes in the Chernivtsi region are private households, which account for 99.7% of the total regional crops.
The area of these crops in 2025 will remain at the level of last year, namely 35.9 thousand hectares for potatoes and 14.6 thousand hectares for vegetables and melons.
“Sowing of vegetables and potatoes in the open field in the region will begin in late March and early April,” the Chernivtsi Regional State Administration said.
The Nordic Environment Finance Corporation (NEFCO) has already completed 30 projects under the Green Recovery of Ukraine program, created in response to Russia’s aggression in 2022, NEFCO Investment Advisor Yulia Shevchuk said in an interview withInterfax-Ukraine.
“We are actively working under this program. It now covers more than 60 projects, and several more are under development. Despite the war, we have already managed to complete 30 projects. The main areas of our work are improving the energy efficiency of public sector buildings, reconstruction and construction of new housing for internally displaced persons, as well as projects related to critical infrastructure. We work in the areas of water supply, heat supply, and waste management, contributing to their modernization and sustainable development,” Shevchuk said.
In total, NEFCO has managed to raise more than EUR 330 million for the green recovery program. Of this amount, approximately two-thirds was provided by the European Union, one-third by NEFCO’s founders, the Nordic countries (Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland), as well as the Eastern Europe Energy Efficiency and Environment Partnership (E5P) and the Nordic Environmental Development Fund (NMF).
The volume of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the economy of mainland China in January-February decreased by 20.4% compared to the same period last year and amounted to 171.21 billion yuan ($23.87 billion), according to the Ministry of Commerce. The manufacturing industry accounted for 47.82 billion yuan, and the service sector for 120.49 billion yuan.
At the same time, the UK’s FDI in China grew by 87.9%, Germany’s by 54.7%, and South Korea’s by 45.2%, Xinhua cited the ministry’s data.
At the same time, 7,574 thousand new enterprises with foreign capital were registered in the country in two months, which is 5.8% more than their number in the same period in 2024.
As reported, the volume of FDI in 2024 fell by 27.1% to 826.25 billion yuan. This is the largest decline in the history of calculations (since 2008).
As of March 13, Ukraine sowed 83 thousand hectares of spring grains and legumes in 15 regions, the press service of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food reported.
According to the report, a week ago, the work was carried out in two southern regions – Mykolaiv and Odesa. Now they have been joined by 13 more regions.
Currently, barley has been sown on 45.2 thousand hectares, peas – on 17.8 thousand hectares, spring wheat – on 12.9 thousand hectares, oats – on 7.2 thousand hectares.
Ternopil – 15.2 thousand hectares, Volyn – 11 thousand hectares, Rivne – 10.84 thousand hectares, Vinnytsia – 10.1 thousand hectares and Mykolaiv – 10 thousand hectares are the leaders in sowing spring crops.
The Ministry of Agrarian Policy reminded that in 2025 Ukraine plans to plant more than 5.7 mln ha of spring grains and legumes, which corresponds to the level of 2024. The new season is characterized by the increase in the area under spring wheat by 28% (to 222.8 thou hectares), which is due to the growing demand from processors and exporters.
As reported, in 2024 the sowing campaign started on February 29. As of March 14, the sowing campaign was conducted in 14 regions of Ukraine, where 128.1 thou hectares of grains and pulses were planted, including 12.9 thou hectares of wheat, 69.6 thou hectares of barley, 41.5 thou hectares of peas and 3.7 thou hectares of oats.
As part of its reconceptualization, Darynok market mall has opened a family entertainment complex, Smile Park, the mall’s press service reports.
“We have planned a number of dramatic changes for 2025. The first step was the opening of a new children’s anchor. We expect that with the emergence of the largest Smile Park on the left bank, we will be able to attract an additional 10% of traffic. We also plan to further renovate the facility to ensure comfortable shopping, recreation and entertainment,” said Andriy Fedorov, CEO of the management company of Darynok market mall City Capital Group, said Andriy Fedorov, CEO of Darynok market, City Capital Group.
It is specified that Smile Park is located on the ground floor, in the Boulevard sector. With an area of 5 thousand square meters, it is currently the largest on the left bank. Smile Park combines four entertainment concepts in one place: an extreme park for adults and children (rope park, climbing wall, extreme towers and extreme mazes), a rollerdrome (a comfortable and safe area for recreation and rollerblading training), a family complex with trampolines (town of professions, creative zones, playpen for kids) and a VR park with rides and racing simulators.
The entertainment complex also has an 800-square-meter family restaurant and five themed rooms for birthday parties.
“Darynok is the largest family-type market mall in Kyiv. In 2024, it was visited by 3.9 million people, with approximately 60% of visitors being family audiences. The total area is 68 thousand square meters, the leasable area is 45.1 thousand square meters. It has seven sales halls with approximately 2 thousand shops and retail spaces. The market mall’s assortment is widely represented by clothing and footwear categories for the whole family, large separate sectors of outerwear and wedding wear, household goods and furniture. The vacancy rate at the end of 2024 was 4%.
In January-February 2025, accrued insurance premiums under international insurance contracts “Green Card” concluded by member companies of the Motor (Transport) Insurance Bureau of Ukraine (MTIBU) increased by 6.43% compared to the same period in 2024 – up to UAH 835.6 million.
According to the MTIBU website, the number of Green Card contracts concluded during this period decreased by 11.8% to 191.3 thousand.
The amount of compensation paid on claims also decreased by 6.79% to EUR 7.131 million, the number of paid claims – by 12.3% to 2.209 thousand.
MTIBU is the only association of insurers that provide compulsory insurance of civil liability of owners of land vehicles for damage caused to third parties.
“Green Card is a system of insurance coverage for victims of road traffic accidents, regardless of their country of residence and country of registration of the vehicle. “The Green Card covers 45 countries in Europe, Asia and Africa.
According to the decision adopted by the General Assembly of the Council of the Bureau of the International Motor Insurance System “Green Card” in Luxembourg in May 2004, Ukraine became a full member of the system on January 1, 2005.
