KYIV. June 16 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The State Fish Agency and experts from the Reforms Delivery Office have drawn up a bill proposing the creation of the fishing industry promotion fund, the budget of which tentatively could be UAH 50 million a year.
“In 2016, only for violation of fishing rules fishing industry saw UAH 35 million of losses and UAH 3.8 million of finds were imposed. In addition, compensation for industrial fish catch and dredging works is paid. However, these funds are diluted in the budget. They are not used to restore fish stocks. The fund would help to use the funds generated by the sector for its development,” Head of the State Fish Agency Yarema Kovaliv said at a press conference on Wednesday.
According to preliminary calculations, the funds’ annual budget could be around UAH 50 million. The sources of financing of the fund will be fees for the use of water bio resources, administrative fines for violation of legislation on protection of water bio resources, refunding of damage, contributions by international organizations, charitable contributions and other sources.
“When the money reaches the fund, it will be distributed for top priority goals. The supervisory board consisting of representatives of the state, scientific circles and civil society will consider the projects where the money goes. Among them are scientific researches, restoration of fish stocks in water reservoirs, maintenance of fish patrol agencies and support of fish farmers,” he said.
The agency expects that when the fund starts operating, in three or five years the agency will be able to fully finance its needs without attracting additional financing from the general fund of the national budget.
Kovaliv said that now some UAH 140 million is required to provide for minimum need of fish patrol in new equipment.
“The optimal sum is close to UAH 200 million. Some UAH 300 million is required to fully satisfy the need, and in fact the Fish Agency received UAH 40 million this year,” he said.
KYIV. June 16 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Ukraine since the beginning of the 2016/2017 agricultural year (July-June) and as of June 14, 2017 had exported 42.3 million tonnes of grain.
According to the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food, the country exported about 17 million tonnes of wheat, 5.2 million tonnes of barley, and 19.7 million tonnes of corn.
In addition, 366,900 tonnes of flour had been as of the date.
As reported, with reference to the ministry, Ukraine in the 2015/2016 agri-year (July-June) exported 39.487 million tonnes of grain, which is 13.5% more than in the previous season.
KYIV. June 16 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The agreement between Australia and Ukraine on cooperation in the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes took effect on June 15, the Ukrainian government press service said.
“The Australian embassy to Ukraine informs Ukraine with Note No.44/17 of June 15 that Australia has completed the internal procedures needed for the enactment of the agreement,” the report said.
The agreement was signed in Washington, D.C., on March 31, 2016.
According to the estimation of the Ukrainian ambassador to Australia, the country can meet up to 30% of the Ukrainian energy sector’s need for nuclear fuel.
KYIV. June 16 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has met with President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Shinichi Kitaoka to discuss the implementation of large-scale investment projects designed to enhance energy security, develop infrastructure and protect the environment in Ukraine.
“They also discussed the ways to expand trade, economic and investment cooperation between Ukraine and Japan. To this end, it was agreed to establish JICA in Ukraine soon,” the Ukrainian presidential press service reported on Thursday, June 15.
Poroshenko thanked the government of Japan for the large-scale financial and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine aimed to support reforms and democratic institutions, facilitate economic development and restore the areas of Donbas ruined by war.
According to the report, this is Shinichi Kitaoka’s first visit to Ukraine in the history of the bilateral relations.
KYIV. June 15 (Interfax-Ukraine) – An-132D multipurpose plane-demonstrator built in Ukraine as part international cooperation will be first presented to mainstream international audience at the 52nd Le Bourget 2017 Air Show to take place in Paris on June 19 through June 25.
The press service of Antonov State Enterprise reported on Tuesday that new An-132D will take part in the demonstration program of the show and will be exhibited to potential buyers at the planeside.
An-132D multipurpose plane-demonstrator with a carrying capacity of 9.2 tonnes is modification of light transport An-32 aimed to replace An-32 and An-26 on the market.
Antonov is implementing the program under a contract signed in April 2015 with Saudi Arabia’s King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) and Taqnia Aeronautics Co. The plane is being built with participation of leading western manufacturers: Pratt & Whitney Canada, CMC Electronics (Canada), U.S. Honeywell, France’s Liebherr and Britain’s Dowty Propellers.
The assembly of the plane-demonstrator was finished at Antonov’s facilities in December 2016. In March 2016, the plane successfully completed its first flight.
KYIV. June 15 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) could provide a loan of up to PLN 200 ($53.5 million) to Poland’s multi-layer floorboards producer Barlinek, a leader in Europe, for the expansion of its production capacities in Ukraine and energy efficiency investments in Poland.
According to a report of the EBRD on its website, the project will be discussed by the EBRD board on July 18, 2017.
The EBRD funding will be used to finance investments into the expansion of wooden multi-layer floorboard production capacities.
Barlinek Invest LLC, a subsidiary of Barlinek S.A. under ultimate control of Michal Solowow, will receive the funds.
As reported, Barlinek Group in 2007 launched a wooden three-layer floorboard production facility with the financial assistance of the EBRD for $75 million. The annual capacity of the facility is 2 million square meters of products.
In 2013, Barlinek decided to shut down the wood processing plant in Kosiv (Zakarpattia region), as attempts to optimize operations using different options failed to be successful.
Barlinek owns production facilities in Poland, Ukraine and Romania with a total annual capacity of 9,000 square meters.
