KYIV. Jan 3 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Kyivstar, the leading Ukrainian mobile operator, intends in early 2017 with the help of its subsidiary StarMoney LLC to launch the first set of financial services, in particular, public transfers and payments to third parties.
The press service of the company told the agency, bank issuing electronic money in the project will be state-controlled Ukrgasbank and Pravex-Bank controlled by Italia’s Intesa Sanpaolo, selected at a tender. Currently, the company is conducting a tender to select one of payment systems.
“The project to provide Kyivstar subscribers with mobile financial services consists of several blocks. One of them is currently undergoing pilot testing, while its commercial launch is scheduled for early 2017,” the press service said.
As reported, StarMoney LLC in June received a license from the National Bank of Ukraine for money transfers in the national currency.
KYIV. Jan 3 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Ukraine’s government has ordered the privatization of 68.0095% in PJSC Zaporizhia Aluminium Plant (ZAlK), 75.224% of PJSC Turboatom and 99.999% of OJSC Oriana, according to corresponding resolution No. 1057 dated November 28 posted on the government’s website.
This document approves the plan of placement of the shares in these companies, providing for the sale of these packages at tenders with open bidding on the principle of auction until November 30, 2017.
In addition, the list of objects for privatization includes 22.555% in gas supply and gasification company PJSC Korostyshivgaz, 50.005% of OJSC Osnaschennia, 57.389% of PJSC Lviv plant Avtonavantazhuvach, 25.998% of Avtolyvmash, and 30.979% of PJSC Kamyanets-Podilsksilmash.
The government also extended the terms of auctioning a 99.995% stake in Sumykhimprom and 99.5% of Ivano-Frankivsk Locomotive Repair Plant until November 30, 2017.
KYIV. Jan 3 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman predicts a 25% growth in revenues of local budgets in 2017.
“We have almost an annual rise of 50% in revenues of local budgets … We foresee another growth of 25% next year,” Groysman said on the air of the Espreso TV Channel.
According to the premier, simultaneously with the increase in revenues, the responsibility of local authorities will grow and decentralization in regions depends on their efficiency.
Groysman believes the public should also monitor the use of funds from local budgets to avoid corruption.
KYIV. Jan 3 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Ukraine in 2016 increased transit of natural gas through its gas transportation system (GTS) by 22.5% (15.121 billion cubic meters) compared with 2015, to 82.2 billion cubic meters, according to live data from PJSC Ukrtransgaz.
In December 2016 gas transit increased by 24.5% (1.659 billion cubic meters) compared to the same month in 2015, to 8.421 billion cubic meters. In particular transit of gas through Ukraine to Europe last month amounted to 8.035 billion cubic meters, to Moldova 386.1 million cubic meters.
Total volume of Russian gas transit through the Ukrainian gas transportation system in 2016 was the highest in the last three years.
Ukrtransgaz, 100% owned by Naftogaz Ukrainy, operates a system of trunk gas pipelines and 12 underground gas storage facilities in the country.
KYIV. Dec 30 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Ukrainian state-run postal enterprise Ukrposhta seeks to boost capital investment by 2.4 times in 2017 from UAH 206 million in 2016 to UAH 500 million in 2017.
“We have managed to balance large growth of financial needs of the company in the approved financial plan thanks to search for resources to increase effectiveness and quick growth of the enterprise. The important part of the plan is a possibility of financing capital investment of UAH 500 million,” the press service of Ukrposhta said, citing Director General Ihor Smeliansky.
He said that growth of capital investment is to create a multiplying effect on the development of the company in coming years and help to return the market share to Ukrposhta and increase the quality of its services.
The fund will be spent on repair or re-equipment of departments and truck fleet.
KYIV. Dec 30 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Yanair airline (Zhytomyr) points out a serious problem with training flying staff in Ukraine, Yanair airline Director General Volodymyr Sobolev has said.
“Veterans like me are dying or retire, while young people are different. Someone has a desire, someone is dragged by the ears by parents and he does not understand what he needs this. Many persons are attracted by high wages, but they do not understand that the money is not paid for nothing. We end up with understanding that we need to train flying staff ourselves, from the green field. Unfortunately, training in Ukraine is of low quality, if to choose my words carefully,” he said in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine.
Sobolev said that airlines train pilots themselves. For example, UIA does not train from the green field. The airline signed a contract with Lithuania and guarantees employment to students trained in Lithuania at Baltic Aviation Academy.
“We have own airport [Zhytomyr]. It is likely that we will create a flying school on its base. We have many proposals from pilots from Europe who cannot add flying hours and they are ready to pay to fly with us and get trained,” he said.
