Consumer price growth in Ukraine in April 2022 slowed to 3.1% from 4.5% in March, but exceeded 1.6% in February and 1.3% in January, the State Statistics Service (Gosstat) reported on Tuesday.
In April last year, inflation was 0.7%, so in annual terms in April this year it rose to 16.4% from 13.7% in March, 10.7% in February and 10% in January, the agency said.
Core inflation also eased to 3% last month from 3.8% in March. However, taking into account 0.7% in April 2021 in annual terms, it increased to 13% from 10.5% in March, 8.2% in February and 7.6% in January.
Since the beginning of this year, for its first four months, inflation in Ukraine amounted to 10.9%, and the base – 8.1%, said the State Statistics Service.
The National Bank of Ukraine, as reported by its head Kirill Shevchenko, expected an increase in inflation in April to 15.9%.
As reported, in 2021 inflation in Ukraine rose to 10% from 5% in 2020 and 4.1% in 2019, while core inflation rose to 7.9% against 4.5% a year earlier.
The Austrian company HEAD Group has resumed the construction of a plant in the industrial park (IP) “Winter Sport”, Deputy Mayor of Vinnytsia Andriy Ocheretny said.
“Today we visited a construction site. On the territory of the industrial park, builders resumed foundation work and are building a temporary reinforced concrete shelter for safety during air raids. They plan to complete the construction of foundations by the end of June this year,” Ocheretny wrote on Facebook on Tuesday.
He recalled that according to the project, the plant will include production and storage facilities, an administrative building, a sewing workshop. The production building will house workshops for the manufacture of skis, boots and bindings, as well as warehouses for raw materials and finished products.
As reported, at the beginning of this year, HEAD Group received permission from the State Inspectorate for Architecture and Urban Planning of Ukraine to begin construction of the Head Vinnitsa plant on the territory of Winter Sport.
The total area of industrial premises will be 43 thousand square meters. m.
The company plans to invest about EUR80 million in the creation of production, administrative and storage facilities. It is expected that the plant will be one of the largest plants of the company in the world and will provide jobs for more than 1,200 residents of Vinnitsa.
The total area of the industrial park “Winter Sport” is 25 hectares. The start of construction of the plant took place in May 2021.
Head International Holding GmbH manufactures sports equipment for winter sports, tennis and scuba diving. The company’s production facilities are located in Austria, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, China. The company is present in 85 countries around the world.
Ocheretny also reported on Facebook that eight enterprises from Mariupol have been moved to Vinnitsa so far.
“Forcedly displaced business from Mariupol. We already have eight such enterprises: Mariupol Investment Group, Ukrtransagro, UTA Logistic, Airiel, Maritime Logistic, Aitraks, Donbass Construction Alliance, First Fumigation Company,” the deputy mayor said.
According to him, the Vinnitsa City Council is currently working on finding premises to accommodate production facilities and provide IDPs with housing.
“We plan to use the possibilities of the Industrial Park as well – all conditions have been created there for the production and release of products with high added value, as well as the integration of production into clusters. In turn, this will lead to the development of smart specialization in the Vinnitsa region,” notes Ocheretny.
Mariupol Investment Group (UTA Group) today is a group of companies that provides the entire logistics cycle in the agricultural sector of Eastern Ukraine. According to the information on the website of the group, it includes, among other things, the Ukrtransagro company, a grain transshipment complex that provides services for transshipment, accumulation, storage and shipment to sea vessels, as well as forwarding and customs clearance of grain and oilseeds.
It also includes the companies UTA Logistics – (logistics of grain and oilseeds), Maritime Logistics (comprehensive services for the management of sea vessels).
The Aitrax company specializes in transport services, the First Fumigation Company specializes in the production and sale of pesticides and other chemical products, the Construction Alliance of Donbass LLC specializes in the wholesale trade of timber and building materials and sanitary equipment.
President of the Indian Pharmaceutical Manufacturer’s Association (IPMA) Dr. Menon R.U.P. said in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine how Indian pharmaceutical companies provide humanitarian assistance to Ukraine during the war
– India, like many other countries of the world, helps Ukraine. What kind of humanitarian assistance is already being provided from India to Ukraine?
– Taking into account the humanitarian crisis caused by the events in Ukraine, India has decided to expand humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and neighboring countries:
Since February 24, the Government of India has sent more than 90 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Ukraine and its neighboring Western countries, while private companies and agencies in India have also donated a similar amount of aid, consisting of medicines, blankets, tents, tarpaulins, eye protection, water storage tanks, sleeping mats, surgical gloves, etc.
The Government of India is expected to provide Ukraine with another tranche of essential medicines and medical supplies soon.
Another batch of medical equipment and medicines was also sent to Ukraine as a humanitarian aid by Ocean Philanthropic Center Private Limited (Mumbai, India) in cooperation with the local Rotary Club. In the near future, new shipments of humanitarian aid from the mentioned Indian partners are expected.
– It is known that IPMA, as well as leading Indian pharmaceutical manufacturers, hand over significant humanitarian aid to Ukraine. What has been transferred?
– Almost all members of our association have been living in Ukraine with their families for a long time, their life destiny is connected with Ukraine, and we all believe that it is time to repay the debt.
Members of the Indian Pharmaceutical Manufacturer’s Association (IPMA), to date, have already donated medical assistance to Ukraine in the form of drugs valued at over UAH 84.8 million and $250,000, and in the form of financial assistance in the amount of more than $500,000 and UAH 11.5 million.
IPMA members provide charitable assistance with medicines, mainly antibiotics, analgesics, hemostatic, anti-allergic, restorative drugs and vitamins.
In addition, many Indians permanently residing in Ukraine are actively involved in providing food and immediate care to the Ukrainian population.
Volunteers from IPMA members are engaged in the delivery of food, medicine and necessary goods that the military and evacuated citizens need. Vehicles were also organized to evacuate people from different areas (from places where fighting was taking place at the time when the evacuation was needed) to the western regions of Ukraine, and many gave their storage facilities to the authorities for humanitarian purposes.
Our members continue to help the people of Ukraine.
Many pharmaceutical companies that cooperate with our association are also involved in providing humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. In particular, the pharmaceutical company Cipla donated a batch of medicines, including urgently needed antibiotics and inhalers worth $120,000. This was also noted with gratitude by the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of India.
The Indian company Intas Pharmaceuticals, through Accord Healthcare in Poland, donated medicines worth more than UAH 59 million for the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, including antiemetics, diuretics, antibiotics, antiepileptics, local anesthetics, painkillers and antipyretics.
In the near future, we are waiting for the delivery of humanitarian cargo from India to Ukraine (via Poland) from M.Biotech Limited with medicines, including anesthesia, tranquilizers and hormonal drugs.
– What is the position of India regarding the war unleashed by Russia against Ukraine? What does India say about this?
– India has expressed serious concern about the ongoing conflict in Ukraine in various statements.
Elaborating on India’s position regarding the conflict, External Affairs Minister of India Dr. S. Jaishankar told the Indian Parliament on April 6 that India is “strongly opposed” to the conflict and “if it chooses a side, it is the side of peace and an immediate end to violence.” He stated: “We believe that no solution can be achieved through the shedding of blood and the cost of innocent lives. Dialogue and diplomacy are the right answers to any dispute these days. And it should be borne in mind that the modern world order is built on the UN Charter, respect for international law, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states. This is our principled position.
India has consistently encouraged talks between Ukraine and Russia. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has spoken to President Putin and President Zelensky (separately with each of them) several times since February 24. He called for an immediate end to violence and a return to the path of diplomatic negotiations. He also suggested a direct talk between the two presidents.
In addition, during Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s visit to India on 1 April, Prime Minister Modi reiterated his call for an end to violence and expressed India’s readiness to contribute in any way to the peace effort. Dr. S. Jaishankar reiterated the need to respect international law, the UN Charter, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states.
Deeply alarmed by the killings of civilians in Bucha, India “unreservedly condemned” these killings and supported the call for an “independent investigation.”
Also, earlier on March 16, Indian ICJ Judge Dalveer Bhandari voted against Russia in a 13-2 verdict that the ICJ is “profoundly concerned about the use of force by the Russian. Federation in Ukraine, which raises very serious issues of international law.”
It is noteworthy that in India, a “candle ceremony” is held daily near the Ukrainian Embassy and candles are lit in memory of the victims of Russian aggression in Ukraine.
– How would you comment on India’s position?
– I am not a politician, but as a citizen of India, although I have been living and working in Ukraine for more than 40 years, I would like to emphasize that India’s neutrality in the United Nations does not negate the fact that India is seriously concerned about the situation in Ukraine and Russian aggression in general, the need to comply with the UN Charter, international law and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states. India also called for a return to dialogue as a single path forward in its statements and clarifications.
– What are the work plans of Indian pharmaceutical companies in Ukraine?
– All our members, Indian pharmaceutical companies, continue to work in Ukraine, do their best to ensure access to medicines from all distributors and pharmacies in Ukraine, and support Ukrainian patients with their efforts by providing high-quality and safe medicines both at affordable prices and by helping comprehensively as charity.
Our companies are planning to resume imports already in May, to find ways of deliveries through the Polish and Romanian borders.
We believe in the victory of Ukraine and the world!
The official page of the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of India states that the Embassy of Ukraine in India expresses its gratitude to the Indian pharmaceutical companies – members (participants) of the Indian Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (IPMA) and their partners, in particular the companies: AbrylPharma, DiaPharmaLTD., DR. Reddy`s, EuroLifecareLtd./Konark, HeteroLabsLtd., MacleodsPharmaceuticalsLtd., MegaLifesciences, OrganosynLtd., SunPharmaceuticalIndustriesLtd., and IPMA President Dr. Menon R.U.P. for support and assistance to the Ukrainian people.
The Government of Ukraine has canceled the ban (in the form of zero quotas) imposed on March 5 this year on the export of sugar and millet.
According to the Decree of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 549 dated May 7, sugar and millet are now included in the list of goods whose export is subject to licensing.
Earlier, the All-Ukrainian Agrarian Rada (VAR) proposed to the government to allow the export of millet, setting its quota of 80 thousand tons, since there is an excess of this crop in the country.
VAR referred to the data of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy for February 2022, according to which in Ukraine in the 2021/2022 marketing year (MY, July-June) 182 thousand tons of millet were produced, the carryover balance from 2020/2021 MY amounted to 18 thousand tons, while the average domestic consumption of millet in the country does not exceed 80 thousand tons, and export expectations for MY 2021-2022 – 80 thousand tons.
In addition, as of April 21, 2022, 4.8 thousand hectares of millet have already been sown in Ukraine, which is significantly more than on the corresponding date in 2021 – 0.9 thousand hectares.
This is the second such decision to lift the export ban. Previously, on April 10, it was replaced by licensing for live bovine animals (UKTVED code 0102), frozen bovine meat (code 0202) and meat and edible meat offal, salted or in brine, dried or smoked; edible flour from meat or meat by-products: cattle meat (code 021020).
Thus, rye, oats, buckwheat and salt suitable for human consumption, fertilizers (except nitrogen, for which the quota was increased to 210 thousand tons per quarter) remained on the list of zero export quotas.
Attention! A man has disappeared in Donetsk regions. Please help us find:
1. Vasilyuk Miroslav Ivanovich, born April 25, 1997 He was wounded in Mariupol, had to be evacuated on 03/31/2022. Last contact was 03/30/22. Distinguishing marks: a mole in the middle of his forehead, a leopard tattoo on his right arm.
Vasilyuk Miroslav Ivanovich
If you have any information about Miroslav’s whereabouts, please call:
+380639227659 (sister Vasilyuk Snezhana Ivanovna).
———–
We ask citizens whose relatives do not get in touch to send us all the information. We recommend using the following contact form:
1. Full name of the missing person;
2. Your contact details;
3. Photo of the missing person, description of special features;
4. Approximate place of the last stay of the missing person.
The “Find your loved ones” project is non-commercial, all your appeals will be edited and published free of charge in the media.
We invite colleagues from the media to join the initiative!
The project coordinator is Maxim Urakin, deputy head of the Interfax-Ukraine news agency and publisher of the Open4Business project.
Send information about the missing by e-mail maksim.urakin@gmail.com
British Ferrexpo plc, which controls in Ukraine, in particular, Poltava and Yeristovo mining and processing plants, increased capital investments by 75.2% in 2021 compared to 2020, to $361 million from $206 million.
According to an annual report released by the company on Tuesday, in 2021, the capital investment per tonne of produced products was $160/tonne, while in 2020 this figure was $109/tonne.
At the same time, it is specified that last year, following the projects to increase the capacity of the processing plant (in 2020), the company began to modernize and increase the capacity of its granulator (pelletizer).
Of the $361 million, maintenance and capital expenditures for modernization totaled $113 million in 2021 (2020 – $103 million), including investments in all of Ferrexpo’s core business units. At the same time, investments were directed to the group’s concentrator and granulator, including an increase in capacity – the costs amounted to $111 million (in 2020 – $34.3 million). In addition, Poltava Mining has invested $34 million in a press filtration plant, which is scheduled for completion in 2022.
Additional capex areas are stripping for $69 million in 2021 (2020 – $14 million) and $6 million invested in infrastructure, development and exploration of the Belanovo field (Belanovo Mining), Haleschynske and Pivnichne fields (2020 – $6 million).
In addition, 2022 marks the 15th anniversary of the listing on the London Stock Exchange. During this time, the company has invested more than $3 billion in production, becoming the world’s third largest exporter of iron ore pellets, and is also starting to supply products with a higher iron content (67% Fe) to global markets.
The Group continues to invest and develop its assets, the report states.
After the completion of the initial upgrade of the pelletizing lines, it is planned to enter the next phase of growth, which will increase production of pellets by 3 million tonnes over the next three years. In October 2021, a decision was approved to focus on ore processing and high iron product operations while maximizing production and customer satisfaction.
At the same time, the company intends in the future to increase the total volume of ore production from 125 million tonnes in 2020 to about 265 million tonnes, spending $180 million on this. It is planned to invest $240 million to increase the capacity of crushing equipment and beneficiation to more than 45 million tonnes – contracts have already been signed with Metso and Weir Minerals.
In addition, to increase the capacity of one granulator line (out of four) by 3 million tonnes, investments will amount to $181 million.
It is planned to spend $28 million to solve logistics issues for transporting additional 3 million tonnes of pellets, which will require increasing the capacity of its port and purchasing additional wagons.
At the same time, the report states that investments to increase production by about 25% of existing capacities have been temporarily suspended by the group due to the war in Ukraine, but projects will be resumed after the situation in the country is clarified.
