DIM Company announces the beginning of strategic partnership with TASkombank, within the framework of which special privileges are provided for the purchase of real estate in DIM residential complexes, the press service of the developer reported.
“We at Private banking know: home is more than walls, it is a place where dreams and living inspiration are born. We have joined forces with DIM, TAScombank has prepared unique opportunities for its Private banking clients: a 3% discount for the purchase of housing in the eco-complex business class Park Lake City”, – said Oleg Polyak, First Deputy Chairman of the Board of TAScombank.
Eco-complex business class Park Lake City became the first project from the portfolio of projects of the company DIM, where there are exclusive terms of purchase and payment for real estate. In the near future other projects of the company will be announced, where special conditions for potential investors of the company and unique offers for TASkombank Private banking clients will be introduced.
“The partnership between TAScombank and DIM is a confirmation of our reliability and stability in the realization of our projects. In the future, the partnership between banks and developers will become even more necessary and important, as developers will be able to provide stable financing for their projects, avoid delays in construction, increase the confidence of buyers, and special programs with favorable lending terms will make the purchase of housing more affordable for the general public,” said Arseniy Nasikovsky, junior partner of DIM.
DIM Group was founded in 2014 and specializes in the full cycle of development, including design, construction and property management. During this time, the company has commissioned 15 houses in eight LCDs, a total of 3,640 apartments, built more than 332.7 thousand square meters of residential and commercial space. In 2024 DIM commissioned 1191 apartments in three complexes – New Autograph, Lucky Land and Park Lake City. Six residential complexes of “comfort+” and “business class” category are under construction: Metropolis, Park Lake City, Lucky Land, A136 Highlight Tower, Olegiv Podil, The One.
Change in consumer prices in 2023-2024, %
Open4Business.com.ua
A roundtable held at Interfax-Ukraine on Tuesday discussed the results of a pilot project developed in close cooperation between the Ministry of Education and Science and the Ministry of Veterans Affairs with the active participation of the Ministry of Youth and Sports. The experiment aims to provide all war veterans with the opportunity to acquire a new profession, improve their skills, undergo rehabilitation and participate in sports events at Ukrainian higher education institutions.
“Due to the military operations, Ukraine is likely to become the country with the largest number of female and male veterans. According to official figures, as of January this year, the Ukrainian army numbered about 880,000 soldiers. And according to the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, the total number of war veterans, family members of the victims, and people with disabilities as a result of the war in Ukraine is more than 1.3 million, and further Russian aggression may lead to an increase in the veteran community,” said Artem Honcharenko, moderator of the conference and head of the Institute for Reintegration, Rehabilitation and Professional Development of Veterans ‘Architecture of Resilience’ at KNUBA.
New challenges have led to new tasks for domestic higher education institutions (HEIs): there is a need to create an effective model for integrating war veterans into civilian life through specialized educational, sports and rehabilitation programs.
The participants of the government pilot project jointly carried out a number of activities. In particular, KNUBA, as the country’s leading specialized higher education institution, played a key role in the reintegration of veterans. The university’s specialists have been involved in the development of innovative architectural projects, the creation of rehabilitation centers, and accessible spaces for living, education, work, and leisure. The university can become a key partner in shaping global spatial policy that will ensure comfort, inclusiveness, and sustainable development for veterans, their families, and communities. This is an important contribution to rebuilding Ukraine and creating decent working conditions for those who defend our future.
“Our university influences the market of specialists in the field of construction and architecture, so we actively support projects and initiatives that will help more people strive to create spaces that are accessible and convenient for everyone without exception. Modern approaches to the design and construction of buildings, structures, and spaces, taking into account the principles of inclusiveness, barrier-free accessibility, should become the basis for all educational institutions that train specialists in architecture, construction, and engineering. Combining efforts in this area allows us to make a significant contribution to social development. The University Institute “Architecture of Resilience” is launching the Center for Veteran Development, which will become a platform for adaptation and support of our defenders and a space for training, networking and development,” said Oleksiy Dniprov, Rector of the Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture.
Representatives of the Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture and the National University of Physical Education and Sports also participated in several stages of the implementation of the Inclusive Recovery Project for Ukraine, which was conducted by the United Nations Development Program’s Universal Design School with financial support from the Swedish government. As part of the project, 70 participants from all over Ukraine were selected to work on real projects in 13 Ukrainian cities, creating a wide range of public spaces that should be accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities.
At the same time, the university has started working with foreign organizations and institutions to provide war veterans with medical care and organize specialized rehabilitation programs.
“The National University of Physical Education and Sports of Ukraine has demonstrated its capabilities in the field of rehabilitation of veterans through physical education and sports. The sport of war veterans is a new phenomenon both in legislation and in our society in general. It needs scientific and methodological development, and our university is one of the centers for the development of sports for war veterans and their families,” said Oleksandr Pyzhov, acting rector of the National University of Physical Education and Sports.
According to him, the university provides long-term physical education and sports rehabilitation, holds sports events and training for military and war veterans, which improves their reintegration into civilian life. During the year, the company developed guidelines for the provision of physical education and sports rehabilitation, cooperated with leading medical universities and hospitals in Kyiv, set up a multidisciplinary commission, and introduced a systematic provision of rehabilitation services. Meetings with government officials at the state and local levels are held on a regular basis. The University provides a range of social, physical, sports and psychological rehabilitation activities. To facilitate the transition from military service to civilian life for war veterans, the university provides formal and informal vocational education and professional qualifications. The university has created an adaptive educational infrastructure and is introducing specialized educational methods and adapting educational programs.
This fall, 14 sporting events were held as part of the project “Sports and War Veterans (UBD)”, which included such sports as billiards, athletics (running and shot put), chess, sitting volleyball, futsal, wheelchair basketball, and others.
Also this year, the NUFVSU hosted the All-Ukrainian Veterans Games in eSports and CrossFit. The complex of these activities is aimed at the speedy return of war veterans to civilian life, and only by joining forces we will succeed!”
Volodymyr Onyshchenko, acting Rector of National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic”, said that as part of the deepening cooperation between Ukraine and the European Union, on September 11, 2024, his university became a platform for an important dialogue between veterans and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Yevhen Zakharov, Director of Kharkiv Human Rights Group, and a delegation of committee members from the European Union Advisory Mission for Civilian Security Sector Reform in Ukraine (EUAM Ukraine), the Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine (EUDEL), Poltava Regional Military Administration, heads of local communities, and civil society organizations.
“Poltava Polytechnic ensures the adaptation of the university’s material and technical base to the requirements of an inclusive space. Thus, from October to December of this year, 2090 war veterans attended a number of events at our university,” Rector added.
“During 2024, rehabilitation services were provided to 170 people affected by the war (comprehensive rehabilitation after amputations, gunshot wounds, injuries and diseases of the musculoskeletal system, peripheral nervous system. A project for people with visual impairments has been implemented. Specialists have developed a tiflographic album-catalog of icons “Seeing Treasures Together” with acoustic adaptation. “In general, the implementation of the pilot project is in line with the Post-War Recovery Plan of Ukraine and the Ivano-Frankivsk Region Development Strategy for 2021-2027, in particular, the Development of Social Infrastructure and Inclusion, and has a high level of priority, as it will promote social integration and psycho-physical rehabilitation of war veterans,” said Ihor Tsependa, Acting Rector of Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University.
“Physical fitness and sports activities are one of the key areas of engaging war veterans in active social life and professional activities. Our goal is to create conditions for their social adaptation, physical and mental recovery, and psychological rehabilitation. Since the beginning of 2024, the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, together with the All-Ukrainian Center for Physical Health “Sport for All”, has been actively implementing a new social project “Active Parks – Unstoppable”, said Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports of Ukraine Serhiy Tymofeev.
The goals of the project are to restore the general physical condition, strengthen mental health, social interaction, and unite war veterans and people with disabilities as a result of war into a cohesive community through physical education and sports.
The Active Parks – Unstoppable project is to become a new stage in the rehabilitation of our veterans. We have already set up 85 adaptive clubs where everyone can find something for themselves – from fitness to rugby. The Ministry of Youth and Sports is working to expand the initiative to cover all regions of Ukraine and provide veterans with access to quality physical and mental recovery programs.
In addition, to promote adaptive sports, twenty-six sports federations in sports recognized in Ukraine have already integrated the adaptive sports component into the rules of sports competitions.
“Involvement of war veterans in physical culture and sports is now an important component not only for their physical and mental recovery, but also for social adaptation, helps to overcome barriers and restore confidence in their abilities. This experiment on the basis of higher education institutions will contribute to the development of a systematic approach to the recovery and socialization of veterans through sports, and will help to build inclusive conditions for Ukrainians with special needs, strengthening their participation in sports and active life in the country. In this context, the development of adaptive sports is of particular importance today, as it is designed to enable each beneficiary to feel supported, find new opportunities and return to active life. We want every veteran to feel supported, find new opportunities and return to active life. Physical culture and sports help not only to restore health but also to find new goals,” emphasized Sergiy Timofeev.
The Educational and Scientific Center for Social and Psychological Support and Resilience of the Western Ukrainian National University conducts psychological trainings and consultations, art therapy workshops, various creative activities to maintain emotional balance and develop resilience in veterans and their families, organizes screenings of documentaries about defenders and meetings with veterans-heroes of films, etc. This was reported by the rector of the university Oksana Desyatniuk.
“Our university has opened the first immersive multifunctional hub in Ukraine. This project is part of the National Strategy for Creating a Barrier-Free Space until 2030, initiated by the First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska. The hub has launched a project for the psychological rehabilitation of veterans and physical rehabilitation of the upper extremities using Webex Hologram and Magic Leap 2 augmented reality glasses. Particular attention is paid to staff training and advanced training of academic staff working with veterans,” she added.
Andriy Vitrenko, Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine, emphasized that despite the war, the number of foreign students in Ukrainian higher education institutions continues to be significant. He also emphasized the need to further improve conditions for foreign students in Ukraine.
“The implementation of this pilot project, launched on the instructions of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has demonstrated the enormous potential of universities as leaders and reliable partners in implementing veterans’ policy. Five leading higher education institutions have created unique methods to help war veterans reintegrate into civilian life through education, sports, and rehabilitation programs. This project has developed an effective methodology that needs to be extended to other universities. The social responsibility of higher education institutions is to implement such technologies and methods in their daily activities. Currently, there are about 27 thousand foreign students studying in Ukraine, compared to about 80 thousand before the full-scale invasion, and the highest number of foreign students was about 100 thousand. In terms of price-quality ratio, Ukrainian education is among the top three European countries. I am confident that after the victory, we will reach the largest number of foreign students in our universities and satisfy the demand of domestic students for education. I thank all the participants for their dedication and commitment to change!” he said.
Maksym Urakin, Development Director of Interfax-Ukraine news agency, in turn, emphasized the need to implement the results of the experiment and to establish budget funding for the adaptation of citizens to peaceful life.
War veterans today are faced with this unique phenomenon of “job search” in the Ukrainian labor market. Employers today must and have the opportunity to provide any job to every veteran with proper conditions in accordance with their needs and physical capabilities. Assistance to a special segment of the population – our defenders – should be undeniable and qualified. Any support is important, especially state support.
Therefore, new opportunities for veterans and their families are being actively created at educational institutions. Special courses have been developed in close cooperation with employers, the public and representatives of veteran communities. This is an opportunity to gain new knowledge and skills that will help them return to their chosen profession after returning from the front in civilian life.
Summarizing the results of the conference, the joint pilot project with the participation of the participating universities has high and positive results, which means that we can say that such a project is a success, and next year it is necessary to build systematic and coordinated work on an ongoing basis.
ANDRIY_VITRENKO, DRAFT LAW, IHOR_TSEPENDA, MAXIM_URAKIN, OKSANA_DENYTYNYUK, OLEXANDR_PYZHOV, OLEXIY_DNIPROV, ROUNDTABLE, SERGIY_TYMOFEEV, VETERANS, VOLODYMYR_ONYSHCHENKO, АРТЕМ_ГОНЧАРЕНКО
This year, Ukrainian gardeners will finally be able to make money on apples, as prices for these products have risen not only in Ukraine but also around the world. And winegrowers, although they received a smaller harvest, received good prices for it.
Taras Bashtannyk, President ofthe Ukrainian Fruit and Vegetable Association, told SEEDS about the end of the apple and grape season in Ukraine.
Taras Bashtannik, President of the Ukrainian Fruit and Vegetable Association
– Many Ukrainians have not had a good harvest of apples this year, and it is said that this is the main reason for the high prices of these fruits. Is this true?
– This year’s apple harvest in Ukraine is actually quite good. For once in many years, Ukrainian apple producers are making some money.
But there are no cheap apples and there will be no cheap apples. Everyone knows that the price of apple concentrate has tripled, which has also raised the price of an ordinary apple. And the price of concentrate has risen because of crop failure and problems with oranges, especially in Brazil.
The fact is that apple concentrate is an analog or substitute for orange concentrate and juice. Orange concentrate and juice are now very expensive, and as a result, there is a huge demand for apples and their concentrate.
This year can definitely be called an “apple year”. Compared to last year, the profit for apple growers has roughly doubled. But just as apples have become profitable this year, they can also become unprofitable next year.
“Apple growers in Ukraine have been suffering for the last five years, either because of the weather or the price. At least this year was a good one for them. Now I wish them the wisdom to reinvest their earnings properly.
– What prices for apples can we expect in the near future?
– I think that prices will be high. That is, they will grow. But, in my opinion, it will not be some kind of global growth, because there are stocks.
And it is likely that the price of apples will grow until spring in sync with the cost of storage, inflation, and the devaluation of the hryvnia. In other words, these are the macroeconomic factors that will have an impact, but not speculative ones.
– If massive and prolonged power outages start again in Ukraine, will they affect the formation of new apple prices?
– Unlike the same freezing, an apple storage facility is certainly a large refrigerator, which required large investments to build. But in terms of energy consumption, it is not that powerful.
That is, the owners of the company who built the storage facility for millions of dollars will find the funds to buy a 100 kilowatt generator. And these additional costs will have little impact on the cost of storing products. Therefore, we should not expect that during power outages everyone will quickly sell their products.
– Is the number of apple orchards in Ukraine increasing, or are they being uprooted?
– Some people uproot old orchards. Some simply change the varieties. But I can’t say that it is a mass phenomenon. Those who are engaged in gardening professionally continue to do so.
And some even expand their areas thanks to grant programs. Given the excessive profits, especially this year, I think that the area of apple orchards in Ukraine will be further expanded, in particular, due to new varieties that have the potential for an expert.
Because those orchards in Ukraine that were planted 10-15 years ago usually have outdated varieties that are not in demand in foreign markets. Therefore, they need to be changed, but again, this is an investment. And from year to year, apple growers have always had financial problems.
– Lately, you can often see giant apples in stores and markets in Ukraine. What is the reason for this, or is it just a coincidence?
– To be honest, I haven’t noticed that this is a widespread phenomenon. Usually, medium and medium-large caliber apples are exported. It is quite possible that extra-large or small apples go to retail chains.
Yes, this year apples have a good price in Ukraine, but apple prices have gone up globally. Moreover, systemic players will not rush in different directions, looking for where it is more expensive or cheaper. They prefer to fulfill their contracts or obligations. Therefore, I think that even despite the logistical difficulties, all the fruit will go abroad, according to the contractual agreement.
– What export destinations would you recommend to Ukrainian apple producers?
– I would recommend expanding exports to the East, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, the Emirates, and Indonesia. It is better to choose this direction, because in Europe it is rather “crowded” for Ukrainian apples.
– What kind of harvest did Ukrainian farmers enjoy or, on the contrary, disappoint?
– As for grapes, this year we are facing a crop failure due to a terrible drought. I talked to farmers about this, and they say that it was not so much the spring frosts as the severe summer drought that affected the harvest.
Those who had drip irrigation – those farms were “on a horse”. They got a fairly good harvest, and most importantly, they sold their products at a fairly high price. 40-45 hryvnias per kilogram is a lot for table grapes.
Grapes have once again shown that it is a good and promising crop for Ukraine, but we need to invest in technology. This includes pruning, approaches to growing, storage, and especially watering. The climate is changing, especially in the South. And grapes are a more southern crop. The farther south the plantations are, the more dramatic the issues with this year’s harvest were.
– Today, vineyards are “migrating” further north, how massive is this process?
– Of course, they are trying to shift grape growing to the North. The climate itself is drifting. It’s just that grapes are not such a “fast” crop, unlike vegetables. It is difficult to plant it immediately and get a quick harvest and profit in the same year.
Modern technologies allow us to get a certain harvest only in the third year. But viticulture is also about experience, time, and tradition. Traditionally, grapes are grown in the Odesa region, so it is easier to find specialists for pruning, harvesting, and any other work there.
I am also confident that grapes will gradually be adapted to grow in more northern regions of Ukraine. Actually, Austrian white wines are popular all over the world. But is the climate in Austria warmer than, say, the same Khmelnytsky region? Of course, we need to study this topic in more detail.
But I’m sure that since the Soviet Union, and even later, Ukrainian agricultural science has not paid attention to the central or northern regions in terms of grapes. And no one even thought that grapes could be grown in Zhytomyr.
I am convinced that everything will develop with grapes in Ukraine. Especially, perhaps, with table grapes, not with technical varieties.
Even in Norway, certain peach clones grow quite normally near the fjords. If you choose the right variety, you can grow anything.
Source: https://www.seeds.org.ua/yabluka-ta-vinograd-prinesli-cogorich-nadpributki-ukrainskim-virobnikam/
The World Economic Forum (WEF) has opened the world’s second Global Government Technology Center (GGTC Kyiv) in the capital of Ukraine, the press service of the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine reported.
“It is not by chance that Ukraine became the second country in the world where the Global Government Technology Center started its work. I am proud that our progress is recognized at the international level, and I am confident that GGTC Kyiv will become a center of cooperation, innovation and transformational solutions in the field of digital governance,” the press service quotes the Deputy Prime Minister for Innovation, Education, Science and Technology – Minister of Digital Transformation Mikhail Fedorov as saying.
It is reported that GGTC Kyiv will become a platform for cooperation between governments, businesses, scientists, technology companies and startups. It will facilitate the introduction of innovative solutions, exchange of the best GovTech practices and realization of joint projects. Through cooperation with international partners, Ukrainian startups will be able to share experience and accelerate digital reforms in the public sector around the world.
“The Center in Ukraine will support our global efforts to unlock the enormous potential of digital technologies to improve public services and create new opportunities. It will be a catalyst for cooperation between the public and private sectors, promoting digital technology and innovation at such a critical time for Ukraine and Europe,” the press service quoted WEF Director Mirek Dussek as saying.
GGTC Kyiv will host the GovTech Observatory, a platform for tracking global and national trends in GovTech. It is expected to become a place for knowledge sharing and data-driven policy development. In addition, Innovation Gateway – a platform for finding partners, piloting and scaling technologies in Ukraine with global investments. FutureGov Education – a training platform for public sector leaders to adapt the latest technologies such as digital twins and artificial intelligence. In partnership with CDTO Campu, the center will create a space for experimentation where leaders from around the world can test and implement promising digital solutions.
GGTC Kyiv is headed by social entrepreneur and innovation leader Zoya Litvin.
“Our mission at GGTC Kyiv is to position Ukraine as a global leader in GovTech innovation and inclusive digital transformation. By connecting with the World Economic Forum network and deepening collaboration across sectors, we aim to create solutions that strengthen governance, empower people, and set new standards of transparency and accountability in the digital age. We invite partners from around the world to join us in developing the future of governance,” Litvin was quoted as saying by the press service of the Ministry of Digitization.
The agreement to open GGTC Kyiv Fedorov, WEF President Berge Brende and its managing director Jeremy Jurgens signed in January 2024. It was reported that the first to open a similar center in Berlin, and Ukraine will become the second country in the world where such a platform will be opened.
In May, it was reported that the decision to open the center was contained in a memorandum that Fedorov, World Economic Forum Director Mirek Dushek and Eastern Europe Foundation President Viktor Lyakh signed at the Diia summit in Zurich. GGTC Kyiv will participate in the WEF and popularize the Ukrainian experience of digitalization at the global level.
https://thedigital.gov.ua/news/u-kievi-vidkrili-drugiy-u-sviti-global-government-technology-centre
“TAS Dneprovagonmash (DVM, Kamianske, Dnipro region) will supply more than 400 freight cars (gondola cars and platform cars) to Ukrzaliznytsia and Lithuanian Railways by the end of the first half of 2025 following the results of the tenders won in November-2024, the company reports on its Facebook page.
“The company started the winter production season by signing two major contracts with Ukrzaliznytsia and Lithuanian Railways,” the company said in a statement.
DVM clarifies that gondola cars of the 12-4106 model will be manufactured for Lithuanian partners, and a new development of the plant – 40-foot platform cars for large-tonnage containers of the 13-4155 model – will be delivered to UZ.
As reported, the Lithuanian rail freight operator LTG Cargo (part of Lithuanian Railways) will purchase 200 gondola cars for bulk cargo transportation from DVM for EUR 12.7 million. The first gondola cars are expected to be delivered in February-April 2025.
For its part, according to Prozorro, on December 3, TAS Dniprovagonmash and Ukrzaliznytsia signed a contract for the supply of 252 units of 40-foot fitting platform cars by June 30, 2025, for UAH 707.011 million (including VAT).
The contract provides for a 50% advance payment within 20 calendar days from the date of invoice.
In addition to TAS Dneprovagonmash, the Research and Mechanical Plant Karpaty participated in the tender for the supply of platform cars to UZ, with a bid of UAH 589.680 million against UAH 589.176 million from DVM, for an expected purchase price of UAH 608.58 million (all excluding VAT).
According to the State Railways Administration, the new platform cars have a tare weight of 20.5 tons and a carrying capacity of 73.5 tons, which “will guarantee the transportation of maximum cargo volumes compared to analogous cars available on the market.”
In addition, the platforms will be able to run on the EU rail network.
“TAS Dneprovagonmash is controlled by the TAS financial and industrial group of businessman Serhiy Tigipko. The plant, which has the capacity to produce 9,000 railcars a year, produced 378 freight cars in 2023, down 34.5% from 2022.
In January-September, the company posted a consolidated net profit of UAH 84.08 million, up 6% compared to the same period in 2023, while consolidated net income increased by 62.8% to UAH 1.61 billion.
