EuroChem Group AG has invested more than UAH 11.6 million in the launch of production of Entec Solub high-tech fertilizers in Ukraine, the company’s press service has reported. “On April 3, 2018 EuroChem Group AG produced the first batch of Entec Solub, water-soluble fertilizers with a nitrification inhibitor, in Kremenets (Ternopil region). For its production the company completely converted and resumed its production base, purchased and installed a production line for more than $438,000,” the report says.
In general, according to the company, in 2016-2017 EuroChem invested more than $4.128 million in the development of production sites, four large warehouses of mineral fertilizers and agro-centers in Kazatyn, Buryn, Balakleya and Kremenets.
Over the same period, more than UAH 2.263 billion of taxes and fees were paid to the budgets of all levels.
EuroChem Group AG is the leading fertilizer producer in the world. It mainly produces nitrogen and phosphate fertilizers, as well as organic synthesis goods and iron ore concentrate. The head office of the group is located in Zug, Switzerland, while manufacturing facilities in Belgium, China, Kazakhstan, Lithuania and Russia, and the distribution network in Europe, the CIS, Asia, and South America.
Austria’s Smart Stahl GmbH has won the auction on the sale of the property of a rolling mill at insolvent Ukrainian-Latvian enterprise KVV Liepajas metalurgs, the enterprise’s administrator, Guntars Koris, has said. The proposed price was EUR 1.57 million, excluding VAT, or EUR 1.9 million, including VAT. Smart Stahl GmbH made the payment on March 21.
In addition to the Austrian company, Latvia’s Tolmets Ltd. and FeLM Ltd. also participated in the auction. The initial price of the property was EUR 1.33 million.
According to Austrian site firmenabc.at, Smart Stahl GmbH was founded in April 2017 with fixed capital of 35,000 euros. Its sole owner is Segoa Ventures Limited, a company registered in Cyprus. Smart Stahl Gmbh is a holding company that produces and sells steel and deals with management and IT services.
Ukraine in January-March 2018 exported 1,920 tonnes of cheese, which is 23.9% more than in the same period in 2017. According to customs statistics released by the State Fiscal Service, in monetary terms exports increased by 1.4 times, to $7.23 million.
Imports of cheese in January-March 2018 amounted to 2,830 tonnes of cheese, which is 39.4% more than in the same period in 2017. In monetary terms, this figure grew by 1.6 times, to $14.44 million.
Export of butter from Ukraine in January-March increased by 2.6 times, to 9,070 tonnes. In monetary terms, it amounted to $38.7 million compared to $12.77 million for the same period in 2017. Imports of this commodity, according to the service, grew by 2.75 times, to 297 tonnes ($1.82 million).
Export of milk and cream (condensed) in January-March 2018 decreased by 1.3 times, to 7,720 tonnes. Ukraine supplied condensed milk and cream for a total of $13.12 million, which is 26.8% less than in January-March 2017.
Ukrainian producers in March 2018 exported 47,200 tonnes of sugar, which is 15% more than in the previous month. According to the press service of Ukrtsukor, the main deliveries in March were carried out to the former Soviet Union states and Africa.
“Some 50% of all supplies in March were made to Uzbekistan. In quantitative terms this is 23,500 tonnes. In addition, shipments to Turkey amounted to 7,900 tonnes, Somali to 3,700 tonnes, Tajikistan to 2,900 tonnes, Benin to 1,800 tonnes and other countries to 7,300 tonnes,” the head of the Ukrtsukor analytical department, Ruslana Butylo, said.
Sugar exports in September-March of the 2017/2018 marketing year (MY) amounted to 338,100 tonnes. As reported, sugar production in the 2017/2018 MY grew by 6.5% and is 2.14 million tonnes of sugar. Some 46 sugar refineries were operating during the season. According to the forecasts of the association, the area under sugar beets in 2018 will be about 285,000 hectares.
U.S. Senator Robert Portman believes that Ukraine needs to achieve greater progress in implementing anti-corruption reforms and continue to implement economic reforms. It is necessary to achieve greater progress in anti-corruption reforms, in particular, with respect to the Anti-Corruption Court, he said at a press conference in Kyiv on Thursday.
The senator also stressed that economic reforms should continue. We see a lot of opportunities for the development of our business in Ukraine and for investment, as Ukraine is heavily under-invested … Still much ahead in the issue of achieving transparency of the government, the rule of law, justice, etc., the senator said.
According to him, Ukraine’s way to NATO membership also consists in carrying out reforms. The policy of procurement, especially in the military sector, has become much more transparent … There is much that depends on the progress of reforms and it is in the interests of the Ukrainian people to continue working, the U.S. senator added.
The Regional Development, Construction, Housing and Utilities Economy Ministry of Ukraine has drawn up the updated national construction requirements allowing the placement of pre-school educational centers on the first two floors of residential high-rise buildings. “We want to expand opportunities for kindergartens located in residential buildings. We previously built kindergartens attached to buildings. Now we divided them into groups: if the children stay in the kindergarten until 16:00, they can be located in buildings, the same requirements apply to kindergartens with up to 80 children. Kindergartens 120 children can be located in attached premises, and maybe later we can expand these requirements to 160 children,” the press service of Deputy Minister Lev Partskhaladze said, citing him.
“In many cases, especially in the central districts of large cities, there is not even enough space to place a new separate preschool educational institution. The ability to design small kindergartens in residential buildings or attached to them will significantly reduce this disparity and provide residents with the necessary social infrastructure, where there is no possibility to build separate preschool educational institutions,” Partskhaladze said.
