The European Investment Bank (EIB) will provide two loans of EUR 50 million and EUR 70 million to state-owned Ukrgasbank (Kyiv) to finance energy independence projects for municipalities and support green growth of small and medium-sized businesses, as well as a new EU portfolio guarantee.
“Within the framework of the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC) in Rome, UGB (Ukrgasbank) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) announced the signing of a multi-component financial package,” the bank said on Thursday.
It is noted that this will allow attracting additional financing for small and medium-sized businesses worth tens of millions of euros and has become one of the first significant results of the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2025 in Rome.
As part of the package, Ukrgasbank will allocate EUR 50 million to strengthen the energy independence of Ukrainian municipalities. The funds will be used to modernize the district heating infrastructure, develop decentralized heat generation, integrate renewable energy sources and improve energy efficiency of public buildings. The EU grant component will make this funding available to frontline communities.
Another EUR 70 million will be allocated to support the sustainability and green growth of small and medium-sized businesses. These funds will help businesses maintain operations, modernize and implement environmental solutions.
“This financing is further strengthened by a portfolio guarantee from the EU provided by the EIB, which will significantly increase Ukrgasbank’s ability to lend and raise critical capital for the private sector in the amount of more than EUR 31.25 million, even in wartime,” the bank added.
According to the National Bank of Ukraine, in April 2025, Ukrgasbank ranked fifth in terms of total assets (UAH 220.0 billion or 5.9%) among 60 banks operating in the country.
As reported, the European Investment Bank Group and the European Commission announced a new EU financing package of EUR 600 million at the Ukraine Recovery Conference.
A branded store of premium household appliances Dyson will open in Ocean Mall, the company’s representative office said.
“Dyson stands for innovation, style and impeccable quality in every detail. The hair dryers, stylers, vacuum cleaners and air purifiers that have conquered the world can now be tested and purchased at the new official Dyson store,” the representative office said.
The branded store will also offer the purchase of Dyson devices in installments or on credit.
Dyson is a British company that manufactures premium appliances. Dyson has opened up new approaches to traditional products, including cordless vacuum cleaners with low energy consumption, fans without blades, air purifiers, heaters, high-efficiency hair dryers, stylers and straighteners. Dyson products are currently sold in more than 70 countries.
Ocean Mall is a retail resort 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 devoted to entertainment, including Galaxy amusement park for the whole family and a 7-hall multiplex cinema.
Source: https://interfax.com.ua/news/general/1086872.html
In the first half of 2025, the Ukrainian economy demonstrates fragile but positive growth, despite the difficult external environment and high dependence on international financial support. This is stated in an analytical review published by the Experts Club information and analytical center on YouTube.
“We are seeing a cautious but still positive signal: Ukraine’s economy is growing, albeit very slowly. The National Bank forecasts GDP growth of 2.5-3.1% in 2025. This is above the survival line, but not enough for a full recovery,” said Maksym Urakin, PhD in Economics and founder of Experts Club.
“Inflation remains at 12-13%, which continues to reduce the purchasing power of the population. Despite the NBU’s moderate monetary policy, the pressure on households remains,” the economist explained.
The situation in foreign trade also remains alarming. In May 2025, the trade deficit in goods and services reached $4.1 billion. Imports amounted to $7 billion, while exports were only $3.4 billion. Trade in services also has a negative balance – $1.8 billion against $1.3 billion.
“The structure of exports shows changes. Supplies of pharmaceuticals, wood and live animals are growing, but grain exports have fallen by almost a quarter. And this is even before the loss of possible EUR 3.5 billion in revenues due to the end of EU customs privileges,” emphasizes Urakin.
At the same time, Ukraine’s international reserves have increased – as of June 1, they amounted to $44.54 billion. This is more than at the end of 2024, although it is 4.6% less than in April. But the public debt, according to Urakin, remains critically high – $179.2 billion (about 94% of GDP), of which more than $134 billion are external liabilities.
“The reserves are currently sufficient to stabilize the exchange rate and payments. But this is a resource that cannot be exhausted indefinitely. Ukraine remains critically dependent on international assistance – from the IMF, the EU and other partners,” he emphasized.
The global economy, according to the IMF and the World Bank, is expected to show the slowest growth in the last decade in 2025, at 2.3-2.8%. Inflationary pressures, trade disputes, and geopolitical instability are limiting the potential for global recovery. The Bank for International Settlements describes the situation as a “turning point” due to protectionism, declining productivity, and demographic risks.
The United States recorded its first decline in GDP since 2022, down 0.5% year-on-year in the first quarter. The main reasons are weakening consumer demand and declining exports. However, the Atlanta Fed predicts a recovery – 2.5% growth in the second quarter. PCE inflation is 3.1%, core inflation is 2.6%, and the Fed’s key policy rate remains at 5.25-5.5%.
In China, the economy grew by 5.4% in the first quarter. However, the official PMI in June remained below the 50 mark (49.7), indicating instability in the industry. Meanwhile, the private Caixin PMI exceeded 50 for the first time in several months.
The Eurozone is showing signs of stabilization: in the first quarter, GDP grew by 0.6% y-o-y, inflation in June was exactly 2%, i.e. within the ECB’s target. Manufacturing indices are also improving. Germany is still feeling the effects of the last recession. The GDP growth forecast is only 0.3-0.4%, although the manufacturing PMI has exceeded 50 for the first time since 2022. Retail trade, however, remains weak.
The UK surprised with positive dynamics – 0.7% growth in the first quarter, the highest among the G7. Inflation in May was 3.4%, with the Bank of England’s key policy rate at 4.25%.
India continues to lead the way in terms of growth – 7.4% in the first quarter. Inflation was only 2.82%. The central bank cut its key policy rate to 5.5% in response to lower inflationary pressures.
Brazil is expected to grow at 2.1-2.4%, but inflation in May was 5.32%. This forced the regulator to maintain the high Selic rate of 15%.
Japan is showing the first signs of recovery. The PMI in industry reached 50.1, and the composite PMI – 51.4. Inflation in services is 3.3%, and the Bank of Japan may raise rates as early as 2026.
“The global economy is in a turning point. The US and Europe are stagnating, while China is recovering cautiously. Germany and the UK are showing weak but stable growth. India remains the engine of global development. For Ukraine, the main thing is not to lose momentum, maintain access to international financing and adapt to the new conditions of global trade,” summarized Maksym Urakin.
The material was prepared based on the analytical review by Experts Club. Watch the video for more details at the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQsH3lUvMKo&t
You can subscribe to the Experts Club YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@ExpertsClub
Powers Place LLC, a co-owner of ATB Corporation, Gennadiy Butkevych, plans to gain control over Zhytomyr Investments LLC. The relevant issue of granting the company’s merger clearance is included in the draft agenda of the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine posted on its website.
According to Opendatabot, the owner of Zhytomyr Investments LLC is Cyprus-based Vensimars Management Limited, with Oksana Palytsia as the ultimate beneficiary.
City Estate Management LLC is listed as the owner of Power Place LLC, and Gennadiy Butkevych is the beneficiary.
As reported, in April 2025, Butkevych’s BGV Development company opened the first shopping center in its portfolio, Zhytomyr, in Zhytomyr.
BGV Group Management is an investment group founded in 2015 to create innovative and highly efficient businesses focused on the production of high value-added products. The company has five business areas, within which it develops projects in mining, energy efficiency, retail, development and education. The company’s founder Gennadiy Butkevich is also a co-owner of ATB Corporation.
Since 2022, BGV has been focusing on development, taking into account the priority of restoring and building new residential, commercial and other infrastructure facilities in Ukraine. In June 2024, a new company, BGV Development, was established as part of the group, which is engaged in development projects.
The Director-General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Amy Pope, said that Ukraine needs a plan to attract migrants to the country, even if a significant number of Ukrainian refugees return, she said at the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC2025) in Rome, Italy.
“Ukraine needs a plan to attract migrants to the country.
Because even if we successfully convince Ukrainians to return home, I think we will still need millions of workers to rebuild Ukraine.
We need to provide legal and safe routes for migration into the country,” Pope said.
The Aurora Group opened its first Aurora store in Bucharest on Friday, July 11. This store is the 50th in Romania, according to the company’s press service, as reported by Interfax-Ukraine.
“Our business model, which combines a wide range of products, high-quality service, and affordable prices, has proven popular with both Ukrainian and European consumers. The opening in Bucharest is a testament to our customers’ trust and a significant step toward conquering the European market. We are proud to represent Ukrainian quality abroad and open up new opportunities for Ukrainian manufacturers on the international stage,” commented Taras Panasenko, co-owner of the Aurora group of companies.
The new Aurora store (Bucuresti, Calea Cringasi nr.29 sector 6) has a total area of 200 square meters and offers a compact store format with a wide range of products, where you can buy everything you need for your daily needs. For comfortable shopping, price checkers are located in the sales area for quick price verification by customers.
The press service noted that Aurora is successfully competing in the Romanian market, with a local customer loyalty index (NPS) even higher than in Ukraine—approximately 80 versus 60.
As reported, the first Aurora store in Romania opened in October 2023 in Suceava, marking the beginning of the company’s international expansion.
In 2024, a distribution center was opened in Bacău, which optimized logistics.
The expansion of the Aurora group of companies in Romania opens up new opportunities for both local and Ukrainian manufacturers. Today, more than 27 Ukrainian companies already export their products for sale in Aurora stores in Romania.
This is not only a stimulus for the growth of Ukrainian exports, but also a bridge to the international market for small and medium-sized businesses from Ukraine. Aurora is a national company with direct foreign investment from the Horizon Capital Fund, founded in 2011 by Lev Zhydenko,
Taras Panasenko, and Lesya Klymenko, with its head office located in Poltava. As of July 2025, the chain has more than 1,700 Aurora stores in Ukraine and 50 Aurora stores in Romania.
