KYIV. Nov 28 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe emphasizes his country’s devotion to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine and confirmed the decision of Japan to introduce a simplified visa regime for Ukrainians from January 1, 2018.
Prime Minister of Japan sent a letter to President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko to thank for his congratulations on the victory in the Japanese parliamentary elections on October 22, 2017, which was reported by the president’s press service on Monday, November 27. “Japan is a friend of Ukraine and a partner that shares fundamental values. The government of Japan intends to continue supporting Ukraine in carrying out reforms and highly appreciates your leadership skills,” reads the letter.
Abe reiterated the willingness to work closely for the development of Ukrainian-Japanese relations “with the aim of consolidating efforts to respond to global and regional challenges.”
He also noted the successful implementation of the initiatives by the leaders of Japan and Ukraine on holding “Year of Japan in Ukraine” on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
KYIV. Nov 27 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Ukroliya LLC (Poltava region) has invested about UAH 50 million in the new Ukroliya Organic plant for production of organic oil in the settlement of Dykanka in Poltava region, the company’s press service has told Interfax-Ukraine.
“About UAH 50 million is the volume that we are claiming. Part of the funds are loans from Ukreximbank and ProCredit Bank, and part are our own funds,” the company said.
According to a press release from Ukroliya, this is the first certified plant in Ukraine for production of organic oil.
“Our plant will become the first producer of oil in Ukraine certified in accordance with the European organic standards. Organic Standard carried out certification, which demonstrates the recognition of the compliance of our products with the strict standards applied to organic products in Europe,” Ukroliya Organic chief technologist Serhiy Kosvintsev said.
The company plans to process 18,000 tonnes of sunflower, 50,000 tonnes of soybeans, produce 7,020 tonnes of organic sunflower oil, 6,750 tonnes of organic soybean oil, 7,100 tonnes of cake, and 3,000 tonnes of sunflower husk per year.
Ukroliya was founded in 2001. It owns a production complex for processing sunflower seeds in Poltava region.
KYIV. Nov 27 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Infrastructure construction projects may become a driver for development of commercial real estate in Ukraine in 2018, if they are subject to support by government-funded programs, if international investors are attracted, in particular the World Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Investment Bank (EIB).
Director of the investment and projects department of Lviv City Council Olha Syvak said at a press briefing in Kyiv on Thursday, several infrastructure projects are already awaiting financing from European investors.
“Lviv has submitted two large investment applications to the European Investment Bank. The documents have been ‘hanging” for a year and a half. We communicate directly with Luxembourg bankers, they say: there are packages for Ukraine, there is an infrastructure project for the development of cities worth EUR 400 million, there is a credit line, while the government does not make any moves to take this money,” Syvak said.
She also said that if the government of Ukraine shows interest in the issue, the country can receive significant financing for infrastructure projects in the short term.
At the same time, Head of DLA Piper real estate practice in Ukraine Natalia Kocherhina said that while banks expect the reaction from the Ukrainian government, private investors are already investing in industrial, especially in the port infrastructure.
She said that the development of this industry can give impetus to commercial real estate.
KYIV. Nov 27 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The Ukrainian government has approved an updated government targeted defense program “Corvette” for 2011-2028 on the creation of multi-purpose combat ships of the corvette class in the interests of the Ukrainian Navy, the implementation of which was actually stopped in the conditions of the new military-political situation in the country in 2014.
According to sources of Interfax-Ukraine in the government, according to the draft government resolution drawn up by the Defense Ministry and approved at the government meeting on Wednesday, the tasks, activities, terms of implementation, as well as the volumes and sources of financing of the government program were specified.
In accordance with the new version of the document, the main goal of the program is to build ships of the corvette class to ensure the ability of repelling aggression by the navy and curbing threats to national security and protecting the interests of the state.
According to the new version of the government program, the problem is the need to overcome transnational threats in the Black Sea-Azov region caused by the annexation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea by the Russian Federation and the loss of Ukraine’s naval potential.
According to the updated document, the program is designed to ensure the provision of the navy with modern ships capable of restraining armed aggression at sea, as well as to conduct military operations in the far and near sea zones in order to protect the state border, in particular, in accordance with Ukraine’s international obligations.
The deadline for the implementation of the defense program has been shifted from 2021 to 2028. The total volume of public financing was increased by UAH 15.72 billion (by 97%), to UAH 31.93 billion from UAH 16.22 billion. The delivery of the head ship to the customer, planned earlier for 2016, is scheduled for 2022. Until 2028, it is planned to build four corvettes.
KYIV. Nov 27 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Ukraine is negotiating with Iraq to supply 1 million smart meters, the press service of the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (UCCI) has said.
“Now the approval of this contract by the ministries is being completed and soon Ukraine will start deliveries,” the Iraqi head of the Iraqi-Ukrainian Business Council said.
According to the UCCI, Iraq’s total need for smart meters is 2 million units.
As reported, the Ukrainian manufacturer of meters NIK signed an agreement with the British CyanConnode to supply equipment and software for smart measuring systems for $29 million.
According to CyanConnode, within the order about 1 million sets of equipment and software will be supplied within three years. As payment for the equipment CyanConnode will receive $13 million, another $16 million will be received as payment for the use of software during ten years after the installation of finished products.
NIK LLC (Kyiv) is one of the largest manufacturers of measuring instruments and automated systems for integrated energy resources accounting in Eastern Europe.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini have signed a document titled “High Level Understanding on TEN-T Core Network Extension Maps to Ukraine.”
“One of the important practical results of the Eastern Partnership summit in Brussels was the signing by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin and EU High Representative Federica Mogherini of [the document on] a High Level Understanding on TEN-T Core Network Extension Maps to Ukraine,” the ministry’s press service reported on Saturday.
According to the report, this decision will help increase the competitiveness of Ukrainian transport corridors, improve logistics and simplify the formalities in the transport sector between Ukraine and the EU.
Klimkin also wrote on Twitter: “Just signed High Level Understanding on TEN-T core network extension maps to Ukraine. An important step towards further integration of Ukrainian and EU transport networks.”
