As Serbian Economist reports, Belgrade’s preparations for EXPO 2027 are gaining momentum: the authorities and investors are actively modernizing the hotel infrastructure. The most notable project is the reconstruction of the Hotel Slavija, which has been authorized by the Serbian Ministry of Construction for a complete renovation.
The hotel, built 63 years ago and long considered a symbol of Belgrade hospitality, after the completion of the reconstruction at the end of 2026, will receive the category of “four stars” and will offer 465 rooms.
According to the hotel association HORES, there are now 120 hotels with about 8 thousand rooms in Belgrade, and by the exhibition they will be 20 more, adding about 2 thousand more accommodations. Private apartments will also play a significant role.
HORES Director Gjorge Genov stressed the need to organize shuttle transport between Belgrade and neighboring cities (Novi Sad, Šabac) in order to use additional accommodation reserves.
EXPO organizers said that more than 120 countries, including the world’s largest economies, have already confirmed their participation in Belgrade:
– China;
– Germany;
– France;
– Italy;
– Turkey.
The total number of participants is expected to exceed 130 countries.
EXPO 2027, which will last 93 days, will be the largest international event in the history of modern Serbia. For the hotel and tourism sector, it is a chance to reach new service standards and attract long-term investments.
https://t.me/relocationrs/1466
Vitamin D test has become one of the most demanded analyses in Ukraine, which surprises specialists, Deputy Director General of Sinevo Ukraine Mykola Skavronsky said in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine.
“I am a bit surprised by the great popularity of this expensive analysis. Moreover, it is paid for by the state through the medical guarantee program. Even many rich countries do not cover the vitamin D test at the expense of the budget,” he said.
Skavronsky noted that the popularity of the test is due to the active promotion of vitamin D preparations on the market since 2017-2018. “Pharmaceutical companies have made it part of the medical discourse, and the demand has taken hold,” he added.
“Synevo Ukraine is part of Synevo’s international laboratory network operating in more than 10 countries in Europe.”
Competition in the Ukrainian laboratory diagnostics market is intensifying, which could lead to price wars, said Mykola Skavronsky, deputy CEO of Sinevo Ukraine, in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine.
“The number of laboratories has increased after COVID-19, and there are fewer people in the country, so the cost of attracting customers has increased significantly. This could lead to dumping, discounts, and even an increase in drug kickbacks,” he said.
Skavronsky added that the cost of services has also increased due to the devaluation of the hryvnia and the weakening of the dollar against the euro, which forced the company to raise prices by 10-15%.
Sinevo Ukraine is part of the Medicover Group, an international holding company in the field of medical and diagnostic services, whose shares are listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange.
In August this year, Ukrainian metallurgical companies reduced steel production by 6.1% compared to the same period last year, from 691,000 tons to 649,000 tons, but increased it by 11.7% compared to the previous month (581,000 tons).
In the ranking of global producers of this product, compiled by the World Steel Association (Worldsteel), Ukraine ranked 21st among 70 countries.
According to Worldsteel, in August 2025, there was a decline in steel production compared to August 2024 in most of the top ten countries, except for India, the US, Turkey, and Vietnam.
The top ten steel-producing countries in August were as follows: China – 77.370 million tons (down 0.7% from August 2024), India – 14.087 million tons (up 13.2%), the US – 7.156 million tons (+3.2%), Japan – 6.636 million tons (-3.4%), Russia – 5.5 million tons (-4.6%), South Korea – 5.177 million tons (-6.1%), Turkey – 3.394 million tons (+7.9%), Brazil – 2.866 million tons (-4.6%), Germany – 2.577 million tons (-10.5%), and Vietnam – 2.040 million tons (+13.8%).
In total, steel production in August this year increased by 0.3% compared to the same period last year, to 145.288 million tons.
Based on the results of the first eight months of this year, the top ten steel-producing countries are as follows: China – 671.810 million tons (-2.8% compared to January-August 2024), India – 108.920 million tons (+10.2%), the United States – 54.552 million tons (+1.6%), Japan – 54.099 million tons (-4.5%), Russia – 46.091 million tons (-4.8%), South Korea – 41.061 million tons (-3.5%), Turkey – 24.878 million tons (+0.2%), Germany – 22.405 million tons (-11.9%), Brazil – 22.180 million tons (-1.5%) and Iran – 19.781 million tons (-3.6%).
Over the first eight months of this year, Ukrainian steel companies reduced steel production by 6.8% compared to the same period last year, from 5.274 million tons to 4.912 million tons. The country ranked 22nd.
In general, global steel production in January-August 2025 decreased by 1.7% compared to the same period in 2024, to 1 billion 230.635 million tons.
As reported, at the end of 2024, the top ten steel-producing countries among 71 countries were as follows: China – 1 billion 5.090 million tons (-1.7%), India – 149.587 million tons (+6.3%), Japan – 84.009 million tons (-3.4%), the United States – 79.452 million tons (-2.4%), Russia – 70.690 million tons (-7%), South Korea – 63.531 million tons (-4.7%), Germany – 37.234 million tons (+5.2%), Turkey – 36.893 million tons (+9.4%), Brazil – 33.741 million tons (+5.3%), and Iran – 30.952 million tons (+0.8%).
In total, 71 countries produced 1 billion 839.449 million tons of steel last year, which is 0.9% less than in 2023.
At the same time, Ukraine produced 7.575 million tons of steel in 2024, which is 21.6% higher than in 2023 (6.228 million tons). The country ranked 20th in 2024.
In 2023, China produced 1 billion 19.080 million tons (at the level of the previous year), India – 140.171 million tons (+11.8%), Japan – 86.996 million tons (-2.5%), the US – 80.664 million tons (+0.2%), Russia – 75.8 million tons (+5.6%), South Korea – 66.676 million tons (+1.3%), Germany – 35.438 million tons (-3.9%), Turkey – 33.714 million tons (-4%), Brazil – 31.869 million tons (-6.5%), and Iran – 31.139 million tons (+1.8%). In total, 71 countries produced 1 billion 849.734 million tons of steel in 2023, which is 0.1% less than in 2022.
At the same time, Ukraine produced 6.228 million tons of steel in 2023, which is 0.6% less than in 2022. The country ranked 22nd in 2023.
At the end of 2022, the top ten steel-producing countries were as follows: China – 1.013 billion tons (-2.1%), India – 124.720 million tons (+5.5%), Japan – 89.235 million tons (-7.4%), the United States – 80.715 million tons (-5.9%), Russia – 71.5 million tons (-7.2%), South Korea – 65.865 million tons (-6.5%), Germany – 36.849 million tons (-8.4%), Turkey – 35.134 million tons (-12.9%), Brazil – 33.972 million tons (-5.8%), and Iran – 30.593 million tons (+8%).
Ukraine ranked 23rd in 2022 with 6.263 million tons of steel (-70.7%).
In total, 64 countries produced 1 billion 831.467 million tons of steel in 2022, which is 4.3% less than in 2021.
According to Serbian Economist, the body of Ukrainian citizen Oleksiy Polyakov, who disappeared on September 12, has been found in Montenegro. According to unofficial information, he was found near his car in the area of the Praskvica monastery.
The police and official authorities have not yet provided detailed comments.
The police reported that the lifeless body of a man, presumably Polyakov, was found near the monastery.
The mother of the missing man, Olena Polyakova, appealed to Montenegrin Interior Minister Daniel Sharanovich and the police chief to use all available resources to investigate the case. She also stated that $26,000 was withdrawn from her son’s bank account shortly after his disappearance.
According to media reports, the preliminary version of the investigation is considering the possibility of a crime, but there is no official confirmation yet.
Ukraine maintains a significant positive trade balance with a number of key partners, which partially offsets the deficit in relations with China and EU countries.
The largest surplus in the first half of 2025 was recorded in trade with Egypt — $605.0 million. Spain ranks second with a balance of $515.3 million, followed by the Republic of Moldova — $448.4 million. Positive dynamics are also observed in relations with the Netherlands ($357.6 million), Algeria ($276.6 million), and Lebanon ($243.8 million).
Ukraine also has a high trade surplus with Iraq ($189.0 million), Libya ($133.6 million), Saudi Arabia ($128.4 million), and Kazakhstan ($113.6 million).
“The positive trade balance indicates that Ukraine is capable of competing effectively in international markets, especially in the agricultural sector and metallurgy. At the same time, it should be borne in mind that these markets are vulnerable to changes in the global economic situation, price fluctuations, and political factors,” emphasized Maksim Urakin, founder of Experts Club and economist.
According to him, maintaining a positive balance in relations with the countries of the Middle East and North Africa is a key element of Ukraine’s foreign trade strategy.
“Egypt, Spain, and the countries of the Arab world are stable importers of Ukrainian agricultural products. This is a strategic direction that needs to be developed further, as it creates a safety cushion for the economy against the backdrop of significant import costs,” Urakyn emphasized.
Analysts note that consolidating positions in the African and Middle Eastern markets could become a long-term factor in strengthening Ukraine’s foreign economic balance.
Agricultural exports, ALGERIA, ECONOMY, EGYPT, EXPERTS CLUB, FOREIGN TRADE, IRAQ, KAZAKHSTAN, LEBANON, LIBYA, MOLDOVA, NETHERLANDS, positive balance, SAUDI ARABIA, SPAIN, UKRAINE, МАКСИМ УРАКИН
