The trade deficit of Ukraine more than halved by the end of the past 2020 – from $10.22 billion to $4.9 billion, Deputy Minister of Development of Economy, Trade and Agriculture, Trade Representative of Ukraine Taras Kachka has said.
“In U.S. dollars, exports for the whole year amounted to $49.32 billion, which is 1.70% less than in 2019. In the crisis year, this figure is very good. Particularly positive is the reduction of the trade deficit by more than half from $10.22 billion in 2019 to $4.9 billion,” Kachka wrote on Facebook last week.
He especially noted the dynamics of December, when exports amounted to $4.88 billion, which is $150 million more than in the previous month and $760 million than in December 2019.
“The secret of the December figures is quite simple. All over the world prices for metal and ore are growing at a frantic pace. Exports for the 72nd group in December amounted to $715 million (in November it was $572 million and in December 2019 $522 million),” Kachka wrote.
According to him, the export of ore from Ukraine in 2020 amounted to $4.42 billion, which is 23% more than in 2019, while the indicators of ferrous metallurgy ($7.7 billion) and products from it ($0.88 billion) were less by 12% and 15%, respectively, than in 2019.
In addition, due to a decrease in the harvest, physical grain exports in 2020 were lower than in 2019. “But this decrease in physical exports is offset by a rise in prices,” Kachka said.
The Zhytomyr and Lutsk border detachments each received one Landini 5-120 tractor and one Rinieri TRK 200 branch chopper for a total value of more than EUR 100,000.
According to the press service of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, on the eve of the new year, assistance was received from Excelor Holding Group (LLC) as part of the implementation of a joint international technical assistance project with the European Union for provision of equipment for ensuring security and demarcation of the state border between Belarus and Ukraine, vehicles and equipment for border demarcation work.
The technical assistance will be used to carry out demarcation works and engineering arrangement of the Ukrainian-Belarusian section of the border.
Over the past day, on January 1, about 10,000 people arrived in Ukraine, the same number left the country, according to the press service of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.
“During border control measures, 22 persons were denied entry to Ukraine, of which 16 are potential illegal migrants,” the report says.
Also, 4,300 cars were recorded, of which about 1,000 more cars were moving to Ukraine.
For comparison, on the first day of 2020, some 175,000 people and about 30,000 vehicles were registered at the border. Almost 90 people and 22 potential illegal migrants were not allowed through.
Dynamics of changes in discount rate of NBU.
NBU
The national budget of Ukraine for 2021 foresees UAH 81.3 billion for the development of road infrastructure, according to the presentation of the document prepared by the Ministry of Finance and posted on the website of the Cabinet of Ministers.
Out of the indicated UAH 81.3 billion for the development of road infrastructure, UAH 66.4 billion will be financed from the Road Fund. In particular, UAH 31 billion will be used for the development and maintenance of highways of state importance, UAH 18.1 billion for the construction, reconstruction and maintenance of local roads (subvention).
Another UAH 14.8 billion are foreseen for the fulfillment of debt obligations on borrowings under state guarantees for the development of the road network. Also, UAH 2.5 billion in the 2021 state budget has been allocated to ensure road safety.
The development of the road network is also expected at the expense of funds for the implementation of state investment projects in the amount of UAH 250 million, funds of international financial organizations in the amount of UAH 4.6 billion and through borrowing under state guarantees in the amount of UAH 10 billion.
At the same time, the resources of local budgets for the development of municipal roads and streets of united territorial communities (due to excise tax on fuel) is estimated at UAH 8.05 billion.
As of 2020, some 26,500 IT specialists work in Lviv, 80% of whom are technical specialists, according to the IT Research 5.0 industry study conducted by the Fama research agency at the request of Lviv IT Cluster.
According to the study, as of 2020, some 492 IT companies operate in Lviv, which is 7% more than a year earlier (461 companies). At the same time, 45 IT companies closed their offices in 2020.
At the same time, the number of Lviv IT specialists in the current year has also increased – up to 26,500 (24,000-25,000 in 2019) despite the fact that 16.7% of IT companies laid off part of technical workers in the first half of 2020, and 38.9% laid off part of non-technical workers.
The average wage of an IT specialist in Lviv in 2020, according to the study, was $ 2,080, despite the fact that 44% of IT companies reduced income of their employees in the first half of 2020.
“Among the companies surveyed, absolutely all switched to remote work in the first half of 2020, of which 22% partially and 78% fully. Moreover, 78% of companies as of November 2020 partially returned workers to their offices,” the report says.
According to IT Research 5.0, in 2020 the average age of developers in Lviv is 29 years, while last year the figure was less – 28 years. According to the qualification level, the distribution is as follows: the share of Junior specialists – 24%, Middle – 38% and Senior – 38%.
The IT Research 5.0 study was conducted by the Fama research agency based on a survey of IT professionals and companies about the impact of the coronavirus on their activities and costs, expert interviews with the top managers of Lviv IT companies and statistical data.
