At a meeting on Wednesday, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the terms for the privatization of the Odesa Port Plant (OPP), as well as the sale of two sanctioned assets—Demurinsky Mining and Processing Plant (GZK) LLC and Motordetal-Konotop LLC, Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko announced; her resignation from this post had been approved by the Verkhovna Rada the day before.
“The state’s stake in OPZ will be put up for an open electronic auction with a starting price of over 4.3 billion hryvnias. The goal is to attract a strategic investor who will restore full-scale operations at one of Ukraine’s largest chemical complexes,” she wrote on Telegram.
Svyrydenko noted that among the key conditions for the buyer are investing at least 500 million hryvnias in modernization and improving the energy efficiency of production, as well as preserving the company’s core business activities.
According to her, the starting price for the sale of “Demurynskyi GZK” has been set at 1.82 billion hryvnias, and for “Motordetal-Konotop” at 415.5 million hryvnias.
All three assets will be sold through open online auctions on the Prozorro.Sales platform, and the proceeds will go to the Fund for the Elimination of the Consequences of Armed Aggression and will be used for Ukraine’s recovery, the prime minister clarified.
In another post, Svyrydenko referred to this meeting as the final meeting of the current government.
asset, CABINET OF MINISTERS, PRIVATIZATION, PROZORRO.SALES, ОПЗ
According to Serbian Economist, the Ukrainian company “Kaspit Trade” has tripled its shipments of mineral fertilizers from the Serbian chemical holding company Elixir Group to the Ukrainian market over the course of two years of cooperation. In 2026, the importer plans to ship approximately 90,000 metric tons of products to Ukrainian farmers, the company reported.
The information was released following the fourth partnership visit by Ukrainian agricultural producers to Elixir Group’s facilities in Serbia. Representatives of agricultural companies visited the Elixir Zorka plant in Šabac and the Elixir Prahovo production complex, where they familiarized themselves with fertilizer production, quality control, and logistics infrastructure.
According to the importer, compound NPK and NP fertilizers with added sulfur and micronutrients are in the highest demand in Ukraine. They are used for primary and starter fertilization of grain, oilseed, and industrial crops.
The Elixir Zorka product line includes over 30 compound fertilizer formulations.
The importer cites river logistics as one of the advantages of Serbian products. Fertilizers are loaded onto barges in Serbia and transported down the Danube to the port of Izmail. According to the company’s estimates, the shipment takes about six days. Elixir Group’s production sites have access to port, rail, and road infrastructure.
The growth in shipments of Serbian fertilizers is occurring against the backdrop of the Ukrainian market’s overall increasing dependence on imports. In the first half of 2025, Ukraine imported 1.563 million metric tons of mineral fertilizers, which was 25% higher than the figure for the same period in 2024. Imports of compound NPK fertilizers totaled approximately 379 thousand metric tons.
Elixir Group describes itself as the largest producer of compound mineral fertilizers in Southeast Europe. The company’s production facilities are located in Šabac and Prahovo. The total production capacity for mineral fertilizers is approximately 1 million metric tons per year, with over 70% of the output exported to more than 85 countries.
https://t.me/relocationrs/3238
The U.S. Mint plans to begin minting a dollar coin featuring the country’s current president, Donald Trump.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent unveiled sketches of the new “gold coin” on Wednesday, one side of which features a profile of Trump alongside the phrase “In God We Trust.”
“To commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence, the U.S. Mint will begin minting this new $1 gold coin to honor the enduring legacy of freedom and the enduring symbol of patriotism,” Bessent wrote on social media.
The Treasury Department and the Mint did not respond to inquiries from The Wall Street Journal regarding the mintage and release date of these coins, as well as the material from which they will be made and where they will be available.
The publication notes that it is rare for a sitting president to be depicted on U.S. commemorative coins. In the U.S., coins bearing the image of the head of state are usually issued posthumously. The only exception was a 50-cent coin issued in 1926 to mark the 150th anniversary of U.S. independence. Its obverse features the profiles of the first U.S. president, George Washington, and the then-sitting president, Calvin Coolidge, while the reverse depicts the Liberty Bell.
Members of the “Ukrcement” association expect the newly formed Cabinet of Ministers to engage in an open dialogue with the industry regarding problematic issues and to prioritize the interests of domestic producers, Lyudmyla Kripka, executive director and head of the scientific and technical information department at the “Ukrcement” association, told the “Interfax-Ukraine” news agency.
“We expect the new government to engage in an open dialogue and be willing to listen to the industry’s position on problematic issues. We hope that protecting domestic producers will remain a priority of state policy, and that there will be a timely and state-oriented response to the challenges currently facing the cement industry,” she noted.
Among the achievements of the current government, Kripka highlighted the successful harmonization of national standards with European Union legislation as part of the implementation of Ukraine’s Law “On the Supply of Construction Products to the Market.” In addition, she emphasized the support provided to domestic producers, which has been a key factor in maintaining the competitiveness of Ukrainian industry.
At the same time, despite numerous appeals by the Association and its partners to the government, it has not been possible to protect Ukrainian cement producers from the discriminatory impact of the CBAM (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism), Kripka added.
“The default CO2 emission values set for Ukraine have effectively become a barrier to the export of Ukrainian cement products to European Union countries,” she explained.
For building materials manufacturers, it is important that issues related to infrastructure development, national reconstruction, and industrial policy remain among the government’s priorities regardless of the organizational model of central executive bodies, Kripka said in response to a question about the possible separation of a standalone Ministry of Infrastructure from the Ministry of Community and Territorial Development.
“We believe that the effectiveness of public administration is determined not so much by the number of ministries as by the quality of their work, the level of coordination, and the speed of decision-making. Furthermore, any structural changes should not lead to delays in the implementation of government programs, duplication of functions, or complications in business interactions with government agencies,” the executive director concluded.
The “Ukrcement” Association was established in January 2004 through the reorganization of the Ukrainian Concern of Cement Industry Enterprises and Organizations “Ukrcement.” The association comprises five groups of companies, including nine cement plants.
CABINET OF MINISTERS, CBAM, CEMENT, RECONSTRUCTION, UKRCEMENT
New Zealand’s Immigration Service has expanded opportunities for foreign entrepreneurs applying for a Business Investor Work Visa. The changes took effect on July 6, 2026, and pertain to the list of eligible business types, transaction structures, and sources of investment capital.
Applicants are now permitted to acquire franchise businesses that meet the established requirements. Previously, franchises were not considered an acceptable investment vehicle under this program.
Investors are also now permitted to purchase a business of their choice through a New Zealand-registered legal entity that is a tax resident of the country. Additionally, gifted funds or assets may now be used to finance the purchase, provided their lawful origin is verified.
Authorities explain the changes as an effort to align immigration requirements with standard commercial practices and expand the range of available investment opportunities. The reform is expected to make it easier to attract foreign capital, management expertise, and international business connections to New Zealand companies.
The Business Investor Work Visa was introduced on November 24, 2025, for entrepreneurs willing to acquire and personally manage a business already operating in New Zealand. The visa is valid for up to four years and may serve as a basis for subsequently obtaining resident status.
The program offers two investment options. With an investment of at least 1 million New Zealand dollars, an investor may apply for a resident visa after three years of managing the business. An investment of at least 2 million New Zealand dollars allows the investor to take advantage of an expedited process and apply for resident status after 12 months. In this case, the entrepreneur must continue to manage the acquired business for at least three years, including the period after receiving the resident visa.
In addition to the main investment, the applicant must confirm the availability of at least 500,000 New Zealand dollars in reserve funds for living expenses and family support. The applicant must be 55 years of age or younger. They must also have at least three years of relevant business experience or experience in a managerial position and be proficient in English. The application fee starts at 12,380 New Zealand dollars.
The business being acquired must have been operating in New Zealand for at least five years and have at least five full-time equivalent employees. The transaction value, excluding the cost of real estate and GST, must be at least 1 million New Zealand dollars, and the investor’s stake in the company must be at least 25%.
After the acquisition, the entrepreneur is required to actively participate in management, retain at least five jobs, and create at least one additional permanent job for a New Zealand citizen or resident. To transition to a resident visa, the investor must be present in the country for at least 184 days per year.
The value of real estate owned by the company does not count toward the minimum investment amount. This means that purchasing a business along with an expensive building or plot of land does not, in and of itself, guarantee that the program’s financial requirement will be met. The value of the operating business is assessed separately.
According to the industry publication *Investment Migration Insider*, which cites a representative of a New Zealand immigration firm, only one Business Investor Work Visa was approved between November 2025 and March 2026.
The Business Investor Work Visa differs from the Active Investor Plus program. The former is designed for entrepreneurs who purchase and personally manage an existing company. Active Investor Plus is intended primarily for high-net-worth investors and requires an investment of at least 5 million New Zealand dollars in the Growth category or 10 million New Zealand dollars in the Balanced category, without the requirement to actively manage a specific business.
The Polish government has approved a bill requiring the mandatory registration of apartments and houses rented to tourists for short periods. Rentals lasting up to 30 days will officially be classified as hotel services.
The bill must still be reviewed by parliament and signed by the president. Most of the new rules are set to take effect 14 days after the adopted law is published in the official gazette.
A central element of the reform will be the creation of a nationwide registry of tourist accommodations—the Centralny Wykaz Turystycznych Obiektów Noclegowych. This registry will include not only hotels and guesthouses but also private apartments offered through Airbnb, Booking.com, and other platforms.
Each property will be assigned a unique identification number. Owners will be required to include this number in all listings. Online platforms will be required to verify the presence of a registration number and provide booking information to government authorities.
For owners, this means that informal short-term rentals will become significantly riskier. Operating without registration, failing to include an identification number in a listing, or providing false information will result in administrative fines of up to 50,000 zlotys, which is approximately 11,600 euros.
Apartments for short-term rental will have to comply with health, building, and fire safety requirements. Each property must display the house rules, information on quiet hours, and contact information for the owner or manager. However, there are no plans to automatically subject residential buildings to the same fire safety requirements as full-fledged hotels.
Local authorities will be granted the right to designate zones where short-term rentals of private apartments will be restricted or completely prohibited. Such measures may be applied primarily in historic centers and the busiest tourist areas of Warsaw, Kraków, Gdańsk, Sopot, and other cities. The restrictions will not automatically apply to officially classified hotels, motels, and guesthouses.
Residents of apartment buildings, housing communities, and housing cooperatives will be granted additional powers. They will be able to request that the municipality inspect an apartment if tourists regularly disturb the peace, violate safety rules, or disrupt public order.
In the event of repeated violations, the property may be removed from the registry. In such a case, renting it to tourists will be prohibited, and the property may not be re-registered for at least one year. A property owner’s refusal to allow an inspection may also serve as grounds for removal.
Authorities explain the reform as necessary to reduce the informal sector, improve tourist safety, and ensure a level playing field for private landlords and the hotel industry. The Ministry of Sport and Tourism emphasizes that the government does not intend to completely ban affordable short-term rentals, which are used by many Polish families.
For investors, the changes mean higher costs for registering and maintaining properties. Owners will have to register each apartment, comply with safety requirements, and take into account the possibility of local restrictions. The reform may prove particularly challenging for owners of multiple apartments in popular tourist areas.
The reform is also linked to the implementation of EU Regulation 2024/1028 on the collection and exchange of data in the short-term rental market, which has been in effect in the European Union since May 20, 2026. The European rules provide for uniform registration mechanisms and the transfer of information by platforms to government agencies.
Thus, Poland is transitioning from a relatively unregulated model of daily rentals to a system similar to the regulation of the hotel industry. The final deadlines and wording will depend on the bill’s passage through parliament; however, property owners are already advised to prepare documentation for their properties and verify their compliance with health, building, and fire safety requirements.
