Export-import bank SAUDI Exim Bank (Saudi Arabia) will provide state-owned Ukreximbank (Kyiv) with $ 25 million in financing as the first stage of support for importers of Saudi goods, services and products in the Ukrainian and neighboring markets.
The framework agreement signed on October 13 during the Berne Union’s Annual General Meeting in Budapest (Hungary) is the first in the history of Ukreximbank to be signed with Saudi Arabian banks, the Ukrainian bank said.
“The beginning of our cooperation with SAUDI Exim Bank will give impetus for the further development of international cooperation between Ukraine and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, will contribute to the implementation of joint projects in various sectors of the economy and the strengthening of trade ties, which have been developing intensively in recent years,” deputy chairman of the bank’s board Oleksandr Schur said.
Earlier in August, SAUDI Exim Bank CEO Saad Alkhalb announced the approval of more than 80 funding requests for 9 billion Saudi riyals (about $ 2.4 billion) for more than 46 countries over the course of the year to fill funding gaps and reduce export risks for Saudi products in the world. All these decisions were made as part of the implementation of Saudi Vision 2030, which provides for reducing the dependence of the economy of Saudi Arabia on oil, according to the Ukraine in Arabic online edition.
According to the information on the official website, SAUDI Exim Bank was established in 2020 and is the state export agency of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The bank focuses on building capacity in high-growth industries, improving Saudi Arabia’s trade balance and strengthening the economy in non-oil industries, and provides exporters with the opportunity to promote the development and diversification of Saudi Arabia’s non-oil exports.
Source: Ukraine in Arabic
Leader of UDAR, Mayor of the Ukrainian capital Vitali Klitschko initiates the creation of district councils in Kyiv and calls on the deputies of Kyiv council to support the decision.
“I am initiating the consideration by Kyiv Council of the issue of creating district councils in Kyiv. Let me remind you that the district councils were taken from the people of Kyiv by the Yanukovych regime in 2010, and so far the basic local government in Kyiv has not been restored. Today politicians and high-level officials are trying to control Kyiv, although this should be done by the people of Kyiv. That is why the return of district councils is an increase in decentralization, which has been curtailed recently, and the European path of development of the capital,” Klitschko said on his Facebook page.
The mayor of the Ukrainian capital said the deputies of the district councils will be able to better represent the interests of Kyiv residents, will help to increase the transparency of the use of budget funds.
“Firstly, Kyiv is too big a city for the people of Kyiv to be able to personally know their deputy, to complain and convey ideas. Deputies of district councils will be in constant communication with their neighbors, will be able to respond more quickly to their problems. Secondly, more representation means more transparency. The introduction of district councils will allow the people of Kyiv to understand what and how the budget is spent in their area, and to influence it,” Klitschko said.
The UDAR leader said the creation of district councils will not be burdensome for the capital’s budget, the deputies will work on a voluntary basis.
Currently, more than 14 million doses of vaccines for vaccination about COVID-19 are available in Ukraine, Deputy Minister of Health, Chief Sanitary Doctor Ihor Kuzin said. “For the moment, more than 14 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine are available in all regions of Ukraine, and everyone can choose one of three vaccines of different types. If one does not suit you, then there is always a choice. A person cannot have contraindications to all three types of vaccines,” he said at a press conference in Kyiv on Monday.
Kuzin said that 97% of people who were hospitalized with COVID-19 were not vaccinated.
He reported that 7.9 million people were vaccinated with at least one dose, and 6.4 million people are fully vaccinated.
The growth of the gross domestic product (GDP) of Ukraine in January-August 2021 accelerated to 2.9% compared to 2.1% in January-July 2021, the Ministry of Economy has said.
“In January-August 2021, according to the calculations of the Ministry of Economy, the composite production index (CIP) grew by 2.1% (by 1.3% in January-July 2021, a fall of 5.8% in January-August 2020), GDP – by 2.9% (2.1% in January-July 2021, a fall of 5.7% in January-August 2020),” the ministry said in the August survey of economic activity published on Monday.
As the ministry said, in August 2021, an increase in production volumes was demonstrated by almost all types of economic activity, except for wholesale trade, which was supported by a high price level on global commodity markets, an active increase in agricultural production, and optimistic business sentiments amid the “green” level of epidemic danger throughout territory of the country.
“The existing recovery growth does not allow us to speak of a full-fledged post-crisis economic recovery, this requires more time. In addition, the internal economic recovery is also influenced by global changes and risks,” the Economy Ministry said.
Among the pressure factors is the aggravation of political and economic relations between individual countries, Russia’s abuse of a dominant position in the gas market and a sharp rise in gas prices, as well as the spread of a new wave of a mutated strain of coronavirus in the world.
As reported, in 2020, the Ukrainian economy fell by 4%. This year, the Ministry of Economy and the government expect growth by 4.1%, and the National Bank – by 3.8%.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin, during his visit to Georgia and Ukraine next week, will urge these countries to carry out the transformations necessary to qualify for NATO membership, the Pentagon has said.
“Austin will stress in both Georgia and Ukraine that there is an open door to NATO and encourage the nations to make the changes necessary for them to qualify for membership in the defensive alliance,” the U.S. Department of Defense has reported.
As reported, Austin will visit Romania and Belgium after Ukraine and Georgia. In Brussels, the head of the Pentagon will hold a meeting with the defense ministers of the NATO countries. According to the Pentagon, this meeting is expected to discuss Russia, as well as problems from China.
Earlier, the Pentagon said Austin was going on a trip to Europe that weekend. In Georgia, he will meet with Prime Minister of this country Irakli Garibashvili and Defense Minister Juansher Burchuladze, and in Ukraine with President Volodymyr Zelensky and Defense Minister Andriy Taran.
In Romania he will meet with President Klaus Iohannis and Defense Minister Nicolae-Ionel Ciuca.
