The head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Finance, Tax and Customs Policy, Danylo Getmantsev, has drawn the attention of the Economic Security Bureau (ESB) and the State Tax Service (STS) to the coffee trade sector, which has become one of the most problematic in terms of tax payments, with state losses reaching UAH 1 billion.
“We all love to start our morning with coffee. But what is a habit for us has long been a sector with significant losses for the state. The problems begin at the customs clearance stage: every third ton of coffee is smuggled in annually, disguised as chicory or without any declaration at all. The leaders in customs clearance are the Kyiv and Lviv customs offices,” he wrote on his Telegram channel.
According to him, the problems do not end at customs: markets and large retail chains, divided into individual entrepreneurs, are also involved in the schemes of selling illegal coffee for cash, with losses amounting to over a billion hryvnia.
The MP reported that in the first nine months of 2025, the industry showed disappointing results, namely: the VAT payment rate increased to 1.45% (+0.28 p.p. compared to 2024), but it is still 0.46 p.p. lower than in 2023, and income tax fell to 0.85% (-0.09 p.p. compared to 2024).
According to Getmantsev, the main risk for the sector is the level of wages, where 89% of taxpayers pay below the market average salary of UAH 12,900, while, according to work.ua, the market average is UAH 22,000. At the same time, more than 18% of enterprises have an average salary below the minimum, which is evidence of the use of tax evasion schemes.
“It is obvious that a significant part of the industry is in the shadows. The question to the tax authorities is: what is the matter with tax control, where are the cash registers/payment terminals?” said the head of the parliamentary committee, calling on the BEB and the DNS to take urgent measures to de-shadow the coffee industry.
On November 19–20, 2025, Kyiv became the center of discussion on the future of food security and technological development in the agricultural sector. In parallel with the AgroExpo 2025 exhibition, the IV International Conference “Food from Ukraine” was held, organized by the Ministry of Economy, Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Ukraine in conjunction with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and the Federation of Employers of Ukraine, with the support of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
The large-scale exhibition and business forum brought together those who are shaping the future of the agricultural sector: from representatives of the EU, G7, African countries, and the Global South to Ukrainian government officials, leaders of industry associations, manufacturers of machinery and equipment, and companies in the domestic food industry. It was a space where international diplomacy, innovative business, and science came together in direct dialogue. The organizers set themselves an ambitious goal: to show the world that the Ukrainian agricultural sector, despite the challenges of war, remains a driver of innovation. That is why special attention was focused on demonstrating modern technologies in production and processing, new solutions in agricultural engineering, and promoting Ukrainian food products to global markets.
Education has become a critical element linking technology, business, and practical development in the agricultural sector. That is why, for the first time, the exhibition featured the capabilities of AgriAcademy, a free online platform for agricultural education and certified online courses from leading Ukrainian and international experts. AgriAcademy.org is a free online learning platform for agricultural workers and students of agricultural education institutions, launched by the EBRD in December 2022 as part of its food security support program in Ukraine. Its goal is to strengthen the competitiveness and sustainable development of agriculture, which has suffered significant losses due to the war.
AgriAcademy as a navigational beacon amid technology, innovation, and the challenges of war
Visitors to the exhibition could see AgriAcademy information banners with QR codes that led directly to the course catalog. This format attracted considerable attention—farmers actively tested the QR codes, photographed the banners, and many participants learned for the first time about the possibility of certified free training in Ukrainian.
The AgriAcademy team handed out flyers with direct links to certified courses, and this simplicity of interaction became an advantage: specialists from various companies were able to register on the spot without delay.
According to many participants, today, when the industry is experiencing a shortage of personnel and technologies are changing faster than businesses can adapt, quality education is no longer an option — it is a necessity for recovery and growth.
Why interest in AgriAcademy is growing
After the war began, thousands of agricultural workers lost access to structured forms of training. AgriAcademy has become the answer to this problem — a platform that provides:
You can register and take courses here: https://agriacademy.org/courses-catalog/
The training programs cover areas such as crop production, berry growing, horticulture, agronomy, irrigation, animal husbandry, crop processing, organic production, and sustainable development.
By the end of 2026, AgriAcademy plans to launch 20 new courses that meet current market demands.
“Grow with us — with AgriAcademy!”
This message, present at the exhibition, became a key reminder that the future of agribusiness is impossible without continuous learning.
The labor shortage, which is getting worse every year, requires investment not only in technology but also in people. Companies that work with modern knowledge are more efficient, productive, and competitive.
AgriAcademy – training that works for results
Go to training:
https://agriacademy.org/courses-catalog/
AgriAcademy is a free online training platform created on the initiative of the EBRD as part of its food security support program in Ukraine. Its goal is to strengthen the competitiveness and sustainable development of agriculture, which has suffered significant losses due to the war.
The platform’s creation and management (including course development, training tours, etc.) is supported and funded by the EBRD, as well as:
The National Association of Lobbyists of Ukraine (NALU) calls on Viktor Pavlushchik, head of the National Agency for Corruption Prevention (NAZK), to refrain from taking steps that, in the Association’s opinion, could restrict the independence of the lobbying profession and introduce excessive control over their activities.
“We appeal to the head of the NACP, Viktor Pavlushchik, with a public call to stop pressuring the independent profession of lobbyists and to move towards an open dialogue with the professional community. The regulation of lobbying should be based on European standards of transparency, not on manual control of the market by a state body,” said Oleksiy Shevchuk, chairman of the board of the National Association of Lobbyists of Ukraine, at a press conference at the Interfax-Ukraine agency on Wednesday.
According to him, decisions regarding the monitoring and reporting of lobbyists should be made after public consultations with the NALU as a specialized organization.
Yana Tsymbalenko, the NALU’s anti-corruption commissioner, emphasized that the independence of the lobbying profession is an important component of a democratic decision-making system.
“Lobbying is about transparency in representing interests, not about shady deals. Any initiatives by the regulator that could be perceived as pressure on the profession should be discussed openly, taking into account best European practices. We are ready to cooperate with the NACP, but on the basis of partnership, not subordination,” Tsymbalenko stressed.
https://interfax.com.ua/news/press-conference/1121821.html
The National Association of Lobbyists of Ukraine (NALU) has announced the introduction of an anti-corruption officer within its structure, stating its intention to become a model of transparent regulation of the lobbying profession and calling on the National Agency for Corruption Prevention (NAZK) to engage in open dialogue on monitoring the activities of lobbyists.
Oleksiy Shevchuk, Chairman of the Board of the National Association of Lobbyists of Ukraine, announced that the Association is introducing the position of anti-corruption officer in accordance with European approaches to transparency and requirements adopted after the NALU was included in the European Parliament’s Transparency Register.
“The National Association of Lobbyists of Ukraine is introducing an anti-corruption officer, complying with EU requirements and confirming that the profession of lobbyist in Ukraine must be transparent, understandable, and operate exclusively within the legal framework and pay taxes,” Shevchuk said at a press conference at the Interfax-Ukraine agency on Wednesday.
According to him, the NALU is the first public organization in Ukraine to formalize the institution of an anti-corruption officer in the professional community of lobbyists. “No gray schemes, no gray money, no tax-free payments. We are setting an example of how modern lobbying should work—as transparent interaction between business and parliament, not corruption,” the chairman of the board emphasized.
At the same time, Shevchuk criticized the NACP’s approved procedure for monitoring the activities of lobbyists, which, according to him, was adopted without public consultation with the professional community. He considers this approach to be interference by a state body in an independent profession.
“The National Agency for Corruption Prevention is actually trying to establish control over the profession of lobbyists by adopting documents without discussion with the market. Just as the state does not interfere in the work of lawyers, private executors, or notaries, it should not usurp influence over lobbyists. Any accountability mechanisms must be discussed publicly with the professional community,” he stressed.
The head of the NLA emphasized that in the absence of open discussion, the association will appeal to parliament, the government, the Office of the President, and European institutions with a report on the risks of excessive interference by the NACP in the regulation of lobbying.
Lyudmila Kozhura, director of the Vadym Hetman KNEU Law Institute and Doctor of Law, in turn, stressed that for European democracies, systematic interaction between state regulators and lobbyist associations is an established practice.
“If Ukraine is moving towards the European community and adopting the best democratic standards, the state must establish regular dialogue with the National Association of Lobbyists of Ukraine. In the EU, the US, and Canada, regulators systematically hold consultations and discussions with lobbyist associations. This format of cooperation should also be introduced in Ukraine, and we are open to this interaction,” Kozhura stressed.
The anti-corruption commissioner of the NALU is Yana Tsymbalenko, an associate professor at Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, a candidate of sciences in public administration, and an expert in corruption prevention. She noted that any new tools related to the transparent profession of lobbying in Ukraine should be implemented openly.
“Lobbying is not corruption; lobbying is anti-corruption if it is carried out transparently and in the interests of society. The profession of lobbyist requires not only a high level of professionalism, but also a clear understanding of ethical standards and the consequences of decisions made. However, the NACP’s decision to regulate the activities of lobbyists seems premature, to say the least, without broad professional discussion. As the authorized person for corruption prevention, I will ensure maximum transparency in the Association’s activities and prevent any shady practices,” Cymbalenko emphasized.
Executive Director of the National Association of Lobbyists of Ukraine Vitalia Globa reported that the NALU board unanimously supported the introduction of the institution of anti-corruption commissioner and a public appeal to the NACP.
“The National Association of Lobbyists of Ukraine is open to dialogue, cooperation, and professional participation in the preparation of regulations concerning the regulation of the lobbying profession. At the same time, we insist that no decisions regarding the professional activities of lobbyists can be made without the involvement of the relevant association, without professional discussion and transparent procedures,” she added.
Vitalia Globa recalled that earlier, the NALU sent an official notification to the NACP stating that the Association is the first professional organization in the field of lobbying and protecting business interests in Ukraine, brings together leading experts, and is ready to cooperate on regulatory decisions.
NALU representatives also reported that the Association has already developed guidelines on transparency rules for lobbyists and a model contract with businesses, and is preparing educational programs in cooperation with leading universities and international partners. Offline meetings with representatives of lobbying communities in the UK, the US, and EU countries are expected to be held.
The National Association of Lobbyists of Ukraine brings together more than 40 specialists, which is about 40% of the total number of lobbyists registered in the transparency register. The organization calls for an open discussion of the NACP draft document with the involvement of industry representatives, in particular from the fuel, agricultural, energy, and tobacco sectors.
https://interfax.com.ua/news/press-conference/1121804.html
According to Serbian Economist, the Chinese company Techron Automotive plans to build its first foreign plant for the production of plastic car components in the city of Inđija (Vojvodina, Serbia), which will strengthen the country’s role as a regional hub for the automotive industry. This was announced by the Municipality of Inđija, as cited by Serbia-business.eu.
The construction is planned to start by the end of this year. According to the published information, the plant in Indjija will be the first Techron plant outside China. At the first stage, the construction of a 4.5 thousand square meters production building is envisaged. After reaching full capacity, the enterprise will be able to provide about 200 jobs.
The plant is scheduled to open in mid-2026.
Techron produces components for the world’s leading automakers – Volkswagen, Porsche, Audi, Chery, Geely and others. The product line includes engine and transmission parts, interior and exterior components, as well as control system components.
Experts note that the project fits into Serbia’s strategy of deepening specialization in the automotive industry and automotive components: dozens of plants for the production of harnesses, electronics and plastic parts for European and Asian brands are already operating in the country. For the region, this means not only new jobs, but also the need to invest in energy, logistics and vocational education in order to consolidate the effect of the new investor.
https://t.me/relocationrs/1782
Ukrainian shopping streets are not included in the new global ranking of the world’s major commercial locations, Main Streets Across the World 2025, prepared by the international consulting company Cushman & Wakefield, despite the inclusion of 141 streets from nearly 50 countries. Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities are absent from the list.
According to the study, the most expensive shopping street in the world in 2025 will be New Bond Street in London, where the annual rental rate for shops has increased by 22% to €20,482 per square meter. Last year’s leader, Via Montenapoleone in Milan (€20,000), fell to second place, while Upper Fifth Avenue in New York (€18,360) took third place.
The top ten also includes:
4. Tsim Sha Tsui – Canton Road, Hong Kong (€13,900)
5. Champs-Élysées, Paris (€12,520)
6. Ginza, Tokyo (€11,540)
7. Bahnhofstrasse, Zurich (€9,640)
8. Pitt Street Mall, Sydney (€7,300)
9. Myeongdong – Myeongdong-gil, Seoul (€6,000)
10. Kohlmarkt, Vienna (€5,500)
Rental rates rose on 58% of the streets included in the ranking, with Europe showing an average increase of +4%, America +8%, and Asia-Pacific +2%. The largest increase in rental costs was observed on Oscar Freire in São Paulo (+65%) and Fashion Street in Budapest (+33%), while the most significant decline was on Oak Street in Chicago (-14%).
There are no Ukrainian streets in the current ranking, although in previous years (until 2022), Khreshchatyk appeared in some editions of the Cushman & Wakefield study as the main high street location in Kyiv. Experts explain Ukraine’s absence from the current report by a combination of factors: Russia’s military aggression, a decline in investment and transactions in the market, and limited availability of comparable data for international consulting systems.
At the same time, representatives of the Ukrainian retail real estate market note that international brands began to gradually return to Kyiv as early as 2024–2025, and as transparency increases and demand stabilizes, Ukrainian shopping streets may reappear in global rankings in the coming years.
