On October 16, the 11th Kyiv International Economic Forum took place in Kyiv. The theme of this year’s Forum was “Ukraine 2.0: The Power of People.” The event brought together over 1,000 participants, including representatives of the government, diplomatic corps and embassies, international organizations, business leaders and top managers of leading companies, entrepreneurs, investors, representatives of the public sector, and experts.
Discussions at the Forum took place within the framework of 15 discussion panels, in which more than 100 speakers from Ukraine and around the world took part. The focus was on economic development in the context of protracted war and global change: how to maintain macroeconomic stability and competitiveness, attract investment and integrate into global chains, develop industry and technology, and strengthen energy security. Special attention was paid to the role of people in the transformation of the country—their leadership, entrepreneurship, and ability to make decisions that determine the direction of economic change.
The forum was opened by the Minister of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture of Ukraine, Oleksiy Sobolev, who recorded a video message to the forum participants.
“The war has forced about 10 million Ukrainians to leave their homes. Direct losses amount to $176 billion, and economic losses to $589 billion. Despite these challenges, we see that the economy is growing. Our businesses have survived, adapted, and continue to develop. They continue to operate even during blackouts and with disrupted logistics. It is this flexibility and creativity that is our key competitive advantage,” said Oleksiy Sobolev.
The minister added that the state is working to create favorable conditions for business development—providing access to financing through EU and international bank programs, supporting industry and processing, developing industrial parks, stimulating investment in strategic sectors, reducing risks for investors, and continuing deregulation.
“People are at the center of all changes. This year’s Forum confirmed the great potential of Ukrainians. Despite the fact that we have been living in a state of total crisis for almost four years, we remain in the country, invest in the economy, and take responsibility. The country we will live in tomorrow depends solely on joint action and trust between business, the state, and society. The most important thing is to create opportunities for people to plan their future and live with dignity here in Ukraine,” emphasized Vasyl Khmelnytsky, initiator of the forum and founder of the UFuture holding.
The forum showed that Ukrainian business has not only adapted to the conditions of war, but is also actively shaping a new economy through innovation, education, and human development. Companies are investing in training programs, supporting universities, and creating their own educational initiatives and technology projects aimed at training the specialists of the future. Participants emphasized that partnership between the state and business, deregulation, digital solutions, and trust are the basis for attracting investment and sustainable economic recovery in the country.
Summing up the Forum, KMEF CEO Yuriy Pyvovarov noted that one of the key issues in the discussions was security, as it is unknown when the war will end, and that is why the issue of economic stability comes to the fore.
“Ukraine 2.0 is not about returning to the past, but about building a new country: with an innovative economy, a capable security and defense system, partnerships between business and the state, and education that prepares the specialists needed for economic development. We can already see these changes happening—in government decisions, in business actions, in the willingness to take responsibility. The future should not be waited for—it must be created, and that is what Ukrainians are doing today,” said Yuriy Pyvovarov.
Traditionally, the Kyiv International Economic Forum brings the business community together around important social initiatives.
This year, KIEF raised UAH 3 million, which will be donated to the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Soborna Ukraine charity fund, which helps the families of fallen soldiers.
Title partners: Mastercard, AEQUO, UFuture, Work.ua.
Partners: Sense Bank, EFI Group, umgi, MHP, FUIB, DTEK, PrivatBank, NEQSOL Holding, Biopharma, Kyivstar, INTERPIPE, Biosphere Corporation, Ajax Systems, CEO Club Ukraine, OKKO, Done, Metinvest, Balex, GORO Development.
Program partner: ACC (American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine).
Business expert: Forbes Ukraine.
Title media partners: 1+1 media, Starlight Media.
Media partners: Kyiv Post, LIGA.net, The Kyiv Independent, FOCUS, Tvoe Misto, RBC-Ukraine, Mind.ua, Delo.ua, UkrInvestClub, Interfax-Ukraine, TAVR Media, Huxley, finance.ua, Minfin.
Interfax-Ukraine – information partner
The rental market in Budapest (Hungary) in 2025 is experiencing price increases and increased competition, especially in the central areas of the capital, according to analysts and realtors.
According to Global Property Guide, the average asking rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Budapest in 2025 is around HUF 264,000 (≈ USD 713) per month.
Rental rates are rising: in January 2025, asking prices in Budapest rose by 1.8% compared to the previous month, with annual growth of around 9.5%.
For two-bedroom apartments, rental prices in central areas in 2024 ranged from €1,000 to €1,500 per month.
However, in central Budapest (districts 5, 6, 7, 1), the rent for a one-bedroom apartment can be €800–1,500, and in residential areas or outer districts, €600–850.
The share of households living in rented accommodation in Budapest has increased from 12.7% to 17.5% in recent years. The growth is particularly noticeable among young people: a significant proportion of the 20-35 age group rent their accommodation.
The gross rental yield (before expenses) in Hungary is around 5.06% (2025, Q3).
Demand for rentals is growing faster than new housing is being built, especially apartment buildings in central areas, creating a shortage and pushing rents up. In addition, the debate over the regulation of short-term rentals (Airbnb and similar) is intensifying: one district of Budapest has voted to ban short-term rentals starting in 2026, which could affect the overall rental market.
Source: http://relocation.com.ua/budapest-rental-housing-market-analysis-by-relocation/
The Nova group of companies, which includes the express delivery leader Nova Poshta and the financial service NovaPay (TM NovaPay), plans to grow fourfold in five years, according to the group’s co-founder Volodymyr Poperechnyuk.
“We presented our vision for the next five years. We expect to continue expanding globally and plan to grow fourfold during this period,” he wrote on Facebook.
“We have also set ourselves the ambitious goal of becoming one of the top 20 largest postal and logistics companies in the world. Currently, we are only in the top 30,” Poperechnyuk emphasized.
In his opinion, a similar goal could be set for the economy of the entire country, which currently ranks 56th-58th in the world.
“If the goal was to be in the top 20, we would catch up with Poland!” noted the founder of Nova Poshta, adding that he considers such a goal realistic.
He believes that this “does not require ingenious decisions by the authorities, but only that they do not interfere with business,” that they provide economic freedom, in particular through privatization, deregulation, and tax cuts.
As reported, in the first half of 2025, Nova Poshta increased its consolidated net profit by 18.6% compared to the same period last year, to UAH 1.765 billion, and its consolidated net income by 22%, to UAH 29.829 billion.
The volume of parcels and cargo delivered amounted to 238 million (7% more), its network of branches grew by 708 points to 13,985, and the number of parcel terminals increased by more than 4,000 to 28,326.
The Kiel Institute for the World Economy reported on Tuesday that military aid to Ukraine fell by 43% in July and August compared with the first half of the year.
According to the institute, most military support now flows through the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) program. That consists of NATO allies from Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Latvia, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden.
The PURL initiative replaced U.S. arms donations to Ukraine and now requires allies to pay for U.S. weapons deliveries.
The OLX platform calls for a review of the provisions of Bill No. 14025 on the introduction of international automatic exchange of information on income received through digital platforms, and to take as an example the implementation of such rules in European Union countries.
“According to the proposed regulations, even those who sell only one book or jacket per year will be forced to pay tax or go through a complicated procedure to get a refund through the tax service. The new rules significantly complicate simple and secure online trading. Most individuals who sell goods on our platform are simply getting rid of things they no longer use,” the platform said in a statement.
OLX criticized the government’s proposal to require all private sellers to provide personal data to platforms, regardless of sales volume, as well as the need to pay a 5% personal income tax along with a 5% military levy, and the need to manually refund the tax through the tax service if the annual sales volume does not exceed EUR2,000. The company noted that the introduction of the rules would lead to higher prices for buyers and an increase in “shadow” sales outside digital platforms.
The company noted that it fully supports the objectives of the European DAC7 Directive and emphasized the importance of ensuring tax transparency. OLX insists on the implementation of the requirements of this directive, as has already been successfully done in EU countries.
“In these (European – IF-U) countries, private sellers are not subject to the rules if their annual sales do not exceed €2,000. However, entrepreneurs who trade through online platforms are identified, and their data is responsibly transferred to the tax authorities,” the platform explained.
OLX called on lawmakers to engage in a real dialogue with the market regarding the provisions of the bill. The platform, in turn, is ready to provide expert recommendations on the best international practices for implementing the DAC7 directive, the statement said.
As reported, according to the government bill, a personal income tax (PIT) rate of up to 5% will apply to accountable sellers, provided that they open a separate bank account for receipts from platforms and do not trade in excisable goods, as well as if they are not self-employed, do not have employees, and their annual income does not exceed 834 minimum wages (approximately UAH 6.7 million as of January 1, 2025). For anyone who does not meet these conditions, the general PIT rate remains at 18%.
The government’s submission of a bill to introduce the automatic exchange of information on income received through digital platforms such as OLX, Prom, Rozetka, Uklon, Bolt, etc. is a condition of the cooperation program with the International Monetary Fund. The government approved the relevant document in April and submitted it to parliament, but it was criticized for lacking a minimum threshold for application.
Ukraine and the Slovak Republic have signed an agreement on technical and financial cooperation and a joint roadmap.
On the Ukrainian side, the agreement was signed by Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Taras Kachka following joint Ukrainian-Slovak intergovernmental consultations on Friday.
The countries also signed a protocol between the governments on border crossing points across the common state border. On the Ukrainian side, the document was signed by Deputy Prime Minister for the Restoration of Ukraine – Minister of Community and
Territorial Development Oleksiy Kuleba.
In addition, an agreement was signed between the countries on mutual understanding regarding the placement of Ukraine’s diplomatic mission in Slovakia and Slovakia’s diplomatic mission in Ukraine. On the Ukrainian side, the document was signed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Andriy Sibiga.
Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Sviridenko and Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic Robert Fico signed an agreement on the exchange of information on labor mobility, as well as a joint roadmap.
As reported, joint Ukrainian-Slovak intergovernmental consultations are taking place on Friday with the participation of Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Sviridenko and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico.
