Business news from Ukraine

Business news from Ukraine

China in November increased steelmaking by 2.5% YoY to 78.4 mln tons

China in November increased steelmaking by 2.5% YoY against the same month last year – up to 78.4 million tons, according to the State Statistics Office of the country. Meanwhile, relative to October, production decreased by 4.3%.
In January-November, steel output decreased by 2.7% YoY and amounted to 929.19 million tons.
The production of pig iron in China last month amounted to 67.5 million tons, which is 4.1% more than a year earlier, but 3.9% lower than in October. The country produced 782.8 million tons of pig iron in the eleven-month period, down 3.5% from the volume for the same period in 2023.
China has been the world’s biggest steel producer for years.

 

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DIM concluded first deal on “eHouse” in Lucky Land

The first agreement under the state program “eHouse” for the purchase of an apartment in the house under construction in the eco-city Lucky Land by DIM was signed on Tuesday, December 17, the DIM press service reported.

“Signing an agreement to buy an apartment in the modern eco-city Lucky Land with the help of the state program eOselya is an important step towards providing affordable housing for many of our clients and confirming the reliability and transparency of DIM, because during accreditation, banks check the developer very carefully,” Olga Arbuzova, head of sales at Lucky Land, commented on the event, according to the report.

The state program of affordable mortgage lending “eOselya” has been launched in Ukraine since October 2022. Contract servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, employees of the security and defense sector, medical workers, teachers, and researchers can apply for a preferential mortgage at 3% per annum for up to 20 years with a down payment of 20% of the cost of housing.

Starting from August 1, 2023, war veterans, combatants, internally displaced persons (IDPs) and citizens who do not have their own housing over the standard area can apply for the program at 7%.

Lucky Land (6 Berkovetska St.) is a comfort-class residential complex designed as a multifunctional area with developed infrastructure. It includes 23 buildings with a height of 13-14 floors, a total of 5183 apartments, with a guest parking lot for 2.5 thousand and an underground parking lot for 356 cars.

DIM Group was founded in 2014 and specializes in a full cycle of development, including design, construction, and property management. During this time, the company has commissioned 15 buildings in eight residential complexes, a total of 3,640 apartments, and built more than 332.7 thousand square meters of residential and commercial space. Six residential complexes of the comfort+ and business class categories are under construction: “Metropolis, Park Lake City, Lucky Land, A136 Highlight Tower, Olegiv Podil, and The One.

It joined the state program of affordable housing lending “eOselya” in the spring of this year. SKY Bank, a partner bank of the state program for affordable lending, has accredited DIM’s residential complexes, which are at the final stage of construction, for participation in the eHouse program: houses No. 4 and No. 6 in Lucky Land and house No. 3 in Metropolis in Kyiv.

https://interfax.com.ua/news/economic/1034879.html

 

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2022-2024 goods trade balance forecast (usd billion)

2022-2024 goods trade balance forecast (usd billion)

Open4Business.com.ua

Choosing Belgrade neighborhood for real estate investment with EXPO-2027 in mind

On June 21, 2023, the International Bureau of Exhibitions (BIE) approved Serbia as the organizer of Expo-2027. Five locations participated in the competition, including Phuket (Thailand), Minnesota (USA), Malaga (Spain) and Bariloche (Argentina). Belgrade defeated Malaga in the final, receiving the support of 81 nations.

Expo 2027 will be the first world exhibition to be held in Southeastern Europe, as well as in the territory of the former Yugoslavia. The event will take place from May 15 to August 15, 2027 and will contribute to strengthening Serbia’s international image and developing the country’s economy.

How does the Expo affect the host cities?

World Expos, organized since 1928 under the auspices of the BIE, serve as a platform to showcase achievements in various fields, from culture and science to architecture. They are also a powerful tool for attracting investment and increasing tourist traffic.

Among the main benefits of holding Expo for host countries are:

  • GDP growth and job growth;
  • Development of tourism and transportation infrastructure;
  • Strengthening international relations and opening new markets.

For Belgrade, this means a major transformation, including the construction of new facilities, modernization of existing infrastructure and the influx of millions of visitors.

Preparing Belgrade for Expo 2027

The Serbian government has already embarked on an ambitious plan to prepare for the Expo. The plans include:

  • Construction of a new national stadium;
  • Creation of a modern exhibition complex “Expo-2027” with an area of 167 hectares;
  • Development of the transportation network, including new metro stations, railway station and bus terminals.

The “Expo-2027” complex will include multifunctional halls, congress centers, residential premises and commercial areas. These facilities will become part of the modern urban infrastructure, which will contribute to the further development of Belgrade.

Belgrade districts with investment potential

Surcin Special attention is paid to the Surcin district, where the main exhibition facilities will be built. Already today there is a significant increase in real estate prices here. For example:

  • Apartments that previously cost around 20,000 euros are now offered for 70,000 euros;
  • Land prices have increased from €1,000 to €4,000 per acre, depending on location and infrastructure availability.

Experts predict further price increases in Surcin, especially with the construction of the ring road and metro station. Privately owned land plots are becoming increasingly attractive to investors.

Novi Beograd The Novi Beograd neighborhood, known for its modern residential and commercial complexes, may also benefit from the upcoming transformation. Its convenient location and good transportation accessibility make it one of the most promising areas for investment.

Zemun Zemun, located near Surcin, is attractive for its historical landmarks and proximity to key infrastructure projects. Demand for housing is expected to increase here, which could have a positive impact on real estate values.

Impact on the real estate market in Belgrade

The holding of Expo-2027 will become a driver for the development of the entire Belgrade real estate market. New infrastructure, improved transportation and active attraction of foreign investors will create favorable conditions for long-term price growth.

The apartments built in preparation for the Expo are planned to be offered to citizens at preferential prices. This will help solve housing issues of the local population and improve the general standard of living in the region.

Potential for foreign investors

Experts note that the successful holding of Expo-2027 may attract new foreign investors to Belgrade. For them it will be important not only the location of the facilities, but also the prospects for the development of the market as a whole. A similar effect has been observed in other countries, where Expo exhibitions were previously held.

Preparations for Expo 2027 have already started to transform Belgrade. The districts of Surcin, Novi Beograd and Zemun offer unique investment opportunities. Future infrastructure projects, rising real estate prices and the influx of tourists make these districts attractive to both local and foreign investors.

https://news.relocation.rs/?p=2353

 

Help for Armed Forces of Ukraine: Kyivstar subscribers raised over UAH 52 million

Ukrainians continue to demonstrate the power of unity and support for our defenders. As of the beginning of December, Kyivstar’s charity Superpower “Help for the Armed Forces of Ukraine”, activated by the operator’s subscribers, raised over UAH 52 million. The accumulated funds were transferred to the account of the “Come Back Alive” Foundation for Competent Assistance to the Army as part of joint projects.

The connected service allows prepaid subscribers to make a monthly donation of up to UAH 50 simply by using their mobile phone. The donation is automatically deducted when paying for the tariff without additional charges for the subscriber. You can check whether your tariff has the Super Power “Help for the Armed Forces of Ukraine” in the My Kyivstar application.

“Superpower ‘Help for the Armed Forces’ is an opportunity for every Kyivstar subscriber to join the support of our defenders without changing their daily habits. Thanks to subscribers’ contributions, together with Come Back Alive, we were able to implement large-scale projects to support air defense and de-mining. We are grateful to everyone who joins in. Together we are building the future of Ukraine, because we live here,” commented Oleksandr Komarov, CEO of Kyivstar.

In total, Kyivstar and the Come Back Alive Foundation have launched two major projects this year. The first initiative , We Live Here: Mobile Communication Systems for Air Defense, was launched in April. As part of this project, subscribers of the national electronic communications operator raised more than UAH 20 million with the help of the Help for the Armed Forces Superpower. Another 50 million was donated by Kyivstar. The funds raised were used to purchase 10 integrated communication systems for the South Air Command.

The second project was launched in August and will continue until the target amount is reached. This is the “We Live Here 2.0” initiative for demining the country. Its goal is to raise UAH 100 million for robotic systems and equipment for sappers to save their lives. So far, more than UAH 66.3 million has been raised, including UAH 22 million thanks to subscribers who activated the charity Superpower “Help for the Armed Forces”. Kyivstar, for its part, donated UAH 30 million to the project. Another UAH 13 million was donated by concerned Ukrainians and businesses. The initiative is being implemented with the informational support of the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine. The fundraising is ongoing, so everyone who cares can donate to the fund’s special account and to the project’s “bank”.

It should be noted that earlier this year, Kyivstar and Come Back Alive subscribers also joined the first collection for demining – “We live here” – and donated almost UAH 10 million with the help of the Help for the Armed Forces Superpower.

About Kyivstar

Kyivstar is Ukraine’s largest electronic communications operator, serving about 23.3 million mobile subscribers and more than 1.1 million Home Internet subscribers as of September 2024. The company provides services using a wide range of mobile and fixed technologies, including 4G, Big Data, Cloud solutions, cybersecurity services, digital TV, etc. Kyivstar is developing new telecom technologies in Ukraine and plans to invest USD 1 billion in this area in 2023-2027. THE COMPANY PLANS TO INVEST USD 1 BILLION IN THIS AREA. The company helps Ukraine overcome wartime challenges and has allocated over UAH 2 billion over the past two years to support the Armed Forces, subscribers, and social projects. Kyivstar’s shareholder is the international VEON Group. The Group’s shares are listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange (New York). Kyivstar has been operating in Ukraine for 27 years and is recognized as the largest taxpayer in the electronic communications market, the best employer and a socially responsible company. For more information: pr@kyivstar.net, www.kyivstar.ua

 

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Geographical structure of Ukraine’s foreign trade (surplus) in Jan-Sept 2024, thousand USD

Geographical structure of Ukraine’s foreign trade (surplus) in Jan-Sept 2024, thousand USD

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