Foreign Ministers of Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan Bakhtiyor Saidov, Amir Khan Muttaki and Ishaq Dar signed a trilateral framework agreement on the development of a feasibility study for the Trans-Afghanistan Railway project during a meeting in Kabul on Thursday.
“We have signed a trilateral framework agreement on the development of a feasibility study for the Trans-Afghanistan-Pakistan Railway project, which is of strategic importance for the whole of Eurasia,” the Uzbek Foreign Minister said in his telegram channel.
He noted that this transportation corridor will improve trade, support Afghanistan’s economic recovery, and open new routes to world markets through southern ports.
According to Saidov, during the meeting, the Uzbek side reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening trade ties, expanding cooperation in agriculture, pharmaceuticals, textiles and construction, as well as increasing the capacity of the Termez International Trade Center (opened in Uzbekistan near the Afghan border).
As reported, in February 2021, representatives of Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan signed a joint action plan for the construction of the Mazar-e-Sharif-Kabul-Peshawar railway with a length of 573 kilometers and a transit potential of up to 20 million tons of cargo per year following talks in Tashkent.
The World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the European Investment Bank, the Islamic Development Bank, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) have expressed interest in financing the project.
In April 2024, during Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s visit to Moscow, a preliminary agreement was reached on Russia’s participation in the project. The volume of Russian cargo transportation along the projected route can be estimated at 8-15 million tons annually.
According to the Ministry of Transport of Uzbekistan, the construction of the Trans-Afghan railway line will take at least 5 years, with a preliminary cost of $4.8 billion.
AFGHANISTAN, CONSTRUCTION, PAKISTAN, Trans-Afghan railroad, UZBEKISTAN
As of July 18, farmers harvested 7.226 million tons of early grains and legumes from an area of 2.355 million hectares, compared to 2.62 million tons from 919.9 thousand hectares a week earlier, the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food reported.
The ministry noted that 4.671 million tons of wheat have already been harvested (against 1.238 million tons a week earlier) from 1.504 million hectares (434.8 thousand hectares), 2.182 million tons of barley (1.153 million tons) from an area of 660.6 thousand hectares (364 thousand hectares), and 362.9 thousand tons of peas (225.1 thousand tons) from 170.8 thousand hectares (119.7 thousand hectares).
Odesa region is the leader in the harvest of grains and pulses, harvesting 2.02 mln tonnes from 722.1 thou hectares, Mykolaiv region – 1.173 mln tonnes from 488.7 thou hectares, Kirovohrad region – 963 thou tonnes from 238.6 thou hectares.
Rapeseed is harvested in 14 regions. The harvested area is 614.1 thsd tonnes (290.1 thsd tonnes) from 360.3 thsd ha (178.9 thsd ha).
As reported, as of July 19, 2024, agrarians of all regions of Ukraine harvested 15.7 mln tonnes of new crop from 4.4 mln ha, including 10.3 mln tonnes of wheat from 2.627 thou. hectares, barley – 3.1 mln tonnes from 824.2 thou hectares, peas – 319.3 thou tonnes from 154.7 thou hectares, rapeseed – 1.8 mln tonnes from 779.1 thou hectares, soybeans – 0.3 thou tonnes from 0.2 thou hectares, millet – 80 tonnes from 50 thou hectares.
wheat, barley
A children’s store of eco-brands Pokito, with a focus on ages 1 to 10, will open in Ocean Mall, the company’s press service reports.
“Pokito started its operations in 2023 with a clear mission: to offer Ukrainian parents high-quality, environmentally friendly and aesthetically pleasing clothes for children under 10 years old. We offer solutions that meet the daily challenges of an active childhood: comfort, practicality, durability, safe materials and modern design,” said Pokito founder Iryna Zueva.
The assortment of the 80-square-meter store, which will be located on the entertainment floor of Ocean Mall, will include proven European and domestic brands that have proven themselves to be responsible in production, high quality standards and child care. The presented children’s clothing, footwear and related products are united by one idea – practicality, quality and care for the child’s comfort. The store’s portfolio currently includes 15 brands. Among the bestsellers are Spanish Boboli and Cóndor, Danish Liewood and Konges Sløjd, British Mimi & Lula, etc.
The main requirements for manufacturers are a proven reputation for high quality materials, responsible production and environmental standards, safe composition and certificates confirming this. Ukrainian brands already represented include Ukrglamour – embroidered shirts (Lutsk), Elf-Kids – hats (Odesa).
“We want the item to be worn, not to lose its appearance after two or three wash cycles, and to make parents happy that they made the right choice by choosing Pokito products. This creates trust and ensures that our customers will come back to us again,” Zueva said.
As for foreign brands, she emphasized that they choose those that have already gained favor abroad due to their properties, but have not yet gained popularity in the Ukrainian market, which makes it possible to make a unique shopping offer to domestic customers.
Ocean Mall is a retail resort format shopping center. The total area is 300 thousand square meters, with a parking lot for 4 thousand cars. The mall will combine 800 shops and 50 restaurants. Among the largest tenants are Silpo grocery supermarket, flagship stores of the world’s largest retailers in the segments of fashion, sports, and home furnishings. More than 30 thousand square meters in Ocean Mall are dedicated to entertainment, including the Galaxy amusement park for the whole family and a seven-screen multiplex cinema.
DTEK Energy’s machine builders have overhauled the EL160LS roadheader for the first time and handed it over to DTEK Shakhtoupravlenie Dniprovske, reports Corum Group.
“This is a new type of equipment for us, so the project was a real challenge. However, everything was completed on time and in accordance with the technical requirements,” the company said on its Facebook page.
According to the report, the machine received new explosion-proof electrical equipment of its own design, certified according to Ukrainian standards.
The machine has a 300-liter bucket and a 55 kW engine. It weighs 9.5 tons, has a boom swing of ±30°, and operates on slopes of up to 22°.
According to open source information, the EL160LS soil scraper is manufactured by the German company Hazemag. It is designed to level the soil of a mine workings, as well as to load loosened rock mass onto a belt or scraper conveyor.
Corum Group is a leading manufacturer of mining equipment in Ukraine and a part of DTEK Energy, an operating company responsible for coal mining and electricity generation within Rinat Akhmetov’s DTEK energy holding. DTEK Energy’s machine-building assets include Druzhkovka Machine-Building Plant (relocated to Dnipro), Kharkiv-based Svet Shakhtyora Plant and Pershotravensk Machine-Building Plant.
On July 11, 2025, a forum organized by MC-Bauchemie was held in Kyiv.
It brought together experts in the production, design, testing, and certification of concrete and reinforced concrete products, as well as representatives of other interested organizations: large contractors, manufacturers of cement, crushed stone, laboratory equipment; consulting companies, and even the German-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The program was packed, and the discussions were focused and insightful, revolving around the adaptation of European standards, the durability of structures, and the introduction of the latest technologies in Ukraine. The event was opened by Artem Pryimachenko, Director of the Ukrainian branch of MC-Bauchemie, who emphasized the importance of synchronizing Ukrainian standards with European norms—not only as a step towards harmonization, but also as a tool for improving the quality and durability of infrastructure facilities.
One of the key topics of the forum was the conformity assessment of concrete products in accordance with the Law of Ukraine “On the Provision of Construction Products on the Market,” which implements the provisions of European Regulation 305 and lays the foundation for the free movement of construction products on the market. Lyudmila Kripka, Executive Director of the Ukrcement Association, spoke on this topic. In her presentation, she shared the cement industry’s experience in implementing EN standards and preparing manufacturer’s declarations. Lyudmila outlined in detail the challenges faced by Ukrainian manufacturers in adapting to the requirements of the Regulation, in particular regarding labeling, conformity assessment, and the implementation of a system for assessing the technical characteristics of products.
Lyudmila Kripka paid special attention to the targeted use of different classes of cement according to EN in road construction, namely the introduction of roller-compacted concrete (RCC) technology in Ukraine.
During the forum, participants had the opportunity to delve into technical aspects:
All these issues are critical in post-war reconstruction, where reliability, durability, and compliance with modern requirements are paramount.
The final chord was a panel discussion that brought together leading industry experts. They discussed pressing issues facing concrete product manufacturers, including:
During the discussion, it was repeatedly stated that the reconstruction of Ukraine is not only a question of materials, but also of a systematic approach to standardization, conformity assessment, and technical support.
The forum clearly demonstrated that the Ukrainian industry is ready for change, but needs support in terms of standardization, training, and systematic interaction with government agencies.
MC-Forum 2025 was yet another confirmation that Ukraine’s cement and concrete industry is not only flexible to innovation but also active in European integration processes. Thanks to players such as the Ukrcement Association, MC-Bauchemie, and specialists with technical backgrounds, the sectoral transition to European standards is taking place systematically, with an understanding of all the technical nuances.
A group of students from a children’s and youth sports school went to an international sports camp in the Republic of Serbia. According to the Beryslav District Military Administration, 14 children aged 10 to 15, as well as three coaches, took part in the trip. The program includes training sessions, master classes, and cultural exchange with Serbian athletes.
The project is being implemented with the support of Save the Children, the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, and in partnership with Serbian sports organizations. The goal is to promote health, sports integration, and psychological support for children.
The organizers emphasize that this is not the first such initiative and expressed hope for further development of partnerships, including possible return visits by Serbian athletes to Ukraine after the situation stabilizes.
The Beryslav administration and school management express their gratitude to:
The Ukrainian Embassy in Serbia for its diplomatic assistance;
The Save the Children fund for its support;
The Serbian host side for its warm welcome and care.
“Such initiatives give children not only sports, but also faith in the future,” the administration noted.
