“Poninkivska Cardboard and Paper Mill-Ukraine (PCPM-Ukraine, Khmelnytsky region), a major Ukrainian corrugated cardboard producer, increased its corrugated packaging output by 21.2% in January-April 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, to 30.5 million square meters.
According to Ukrpapir Association statistics provided to Interfax-Ukraine, the mill is now one of the top three producers of corrugated packaging after Kyiv Cardboard and Paper Mill and Trypillia Packaging Mill.
Over four months, the plant also increased production of containerboard by 11% to 24.4 thousand tons, and produced 0.33 thousand tons of paper against 0.21 thousand tons a year earlier.
In monetary terms, in January-April, PCBF-Ukraine produced UAH 838.3 million worth of products, up 13.2%.
As reported with reference to the data collected by the association from the main enterprises of the industry, in January-April 2024, the production of paper and cardboard in Ukraine increased by 6.5% compared to the same period in 2023 – up to 189.7 thousand tons, cardboard boxes – by 21.7%, to 187.4 million square meters.
Poninkivska Paper Mill (formerly Poninkiv Cardboard and Paper Mill), once the largest producer of school notebooks, now has one main production line – paper and cardboard, producing mainly corrugated cardboard and corrugated packaging, as well as wrapping and waste paper.
The plant is part of the United Cardboard Company-Ukraine (UCC, Lutsk) owned by businessman Mykola Lobov, whose production assets include, among others, Lutsk KBF-Ukraine (Volyn region), which produced 21.2 thousand tons of various cardboard (21.8% more) and 14.8 million square meters of corrugated boxes in four months (according to Ukrpapir).
As reported, in 2023, PCBF-Ukraine produced products worth almost UAH 2 billion 450 million, up 3% year-on-year.
On May 15, the state enterprise Delta-Lotsman (Mykolaiv) announced a tender for voluntary insurance of liability to third parties for maritime accidents caused by the fault of marine pilots, pilot-operators of the insured’s vessel traffic control service in the performance of their official duties.
According to the electronic public procurement system ProZorro, the expected cost of the service is UAH 1.171 million. The tender security is an electronic guarantee of UAH 35 thousand.
The deadline for submission of bids is May 24.
SE “Delta Pilot” was established by order of the Ministry of Transport of Ukraine in 1998 in order to improve conditions for ensuring safety of navigation, protection of human life at sea and the environment, in the territorial sea of Ukraine in accordance with the requirements of international agreements and conventions, streamlining the structure of marine pilot services in the north-western part of the Black Sea.
The National Bank of Ukraine has decided to apply to PJSC Insurance Company Salamandra (Kiev) a measure of influence in the form of revocation of all licenses, according to the regulator’s website.
Also, in compliance with the requirements of the law “On Insurance”, in connection with the presence of the company’s obligations under insurance (reinsurance, coinsurance) contracts on May 14, 2024 decided to appoint a temporary administration in PJSC “IC “Salamandra” and removal of the governing bodies from the management of the company.
These decisions have been taken according to the results of planned inspection, conducted in October-December 2023, during which it was established the fact of realization by IC of risk activity, threatening the interests of creditors and insurers, namely formation of insurance reserves in insufficient amount (more than 10% of their sufficient amount, determined by the legislation of Ukraine) three times during the calendar year.
The decision on application of the measure of influence came into force on May 14, 2024.
After taking this decision, the temporary administrator should immediately begin to fulfill his duties, is noted in the message.
IC “Salamandra” (formerly – “DIM Insurance”) is part of the eponymous non-banking financial group, the ultimate beneficiary and owner of which is Yuri Yavtushenko.
IC Salamandra is a member of the Motor (Transport) Insurance Bureau of Ukraine.
Number of unemployed in Ukraine and job opportunities, 2023-2024
Source: Open4Business.com.ua and experts.news
On Wednesday, the Polish Parliament adopted amendments to the law on assistance to Ukrainian citizens, which, in particular, provide for the extension of the legal stay of Ukrainians in the country, according to the website of the Polish channel RFT24.
“The adoption of these amendments was recommended by the parliamentary committee on administration and internal affairs. In accordance with the committee’s recommendation, the MPs rejected a number of Confederation amendments and the PiS amendment. The adopted amendments relate to the extension by four months of the deadline for filing applications for the right to practice the profession of doctor, dentist, nurse and midwife, as well as the recognition of certificates from citizens of a country that has terminated the international agreement on their mutual recognition,” the statement said.
The amendment to the Law on Assistance to Citizens of Ukraine provides, among other things, for the extension of the legal stay for Ukrainians who have been assigned a Ukr Pesel number until September 30, 2025, the preservation of payments for the next year and compulsory school education for Ukrainian children. The law also introduces new rules for confirming the identity of a Ukrainian citizen applying for a Pesel number. The only way to prove your identity is to present a valid travel document.
The amendment also specifies a maximum 36-month period during which students can attend additional free Polish language lessons. The decision will apply to students who started attending classes in 2022/23 and 2023/24. The resolution also expands access to medical, family and social benefits, allowances and the possibility of living in collective accommodation.
“The resolution also stipulates that starting from July 1, funding for accommodation and meals for refugees from Ukraine in a particularly difficult situation will be possible only on the basis of a signed agreement with a local voivode or a local government body acting on the basis of a voivode’s order. The rules for participation in the costs of accommodation and meals in collective centers will also change, making the payment of the subsidies due more efficient than now,” the statement said.
The law also provides for the abolition of benefits related to the compensation of refugees’ accommodation and food costs incurred by owners of private premises. As of July 1, the payment of one-time cash benefits in the amount of 300 zlotys will also be discontinued.
During the committee meeting, Deputy Minister of Education Ioanna Mukha noted that the amendment is related to the recent suspension in Belarus of issuing documents confirming the passing of the final exam to its citizens abroad. She said that refugees from Belarus cannot study in Poland without a high school diploma. She added that about five thousand Belarusian citizens are in this situation, but this may also apply to citizens of other countries.
The law, with the exception of some provisions, will come into force on July 1. It will now be discussed by the Senate (the upper house of the Polish parliament).
According to Ukrainians, the countries of the Arab world are neutral in the Russian-Ukrainian war. This was revealed by a joint study by Active Group and the Experts Club think tank, “Attitudes of Ukrainians toward the Middle East and Central Asia,” which was presented at Interfax-Ukraine on Tuesday.
“The analysis includes a predominantly positive attitude of our citizens towards such countries as Israel (72.5%) and Turkey (55%), while the attitude towards other countries in the region is mostly neutral. Ukrainians are extremely negative about Iran (76%) and mostly negative about Afghanistan (52.6%),” said Oleksandr Poznyi, director of the research company Active Group.
In addition, the expert added that Ukrainians are mostly positive about countries with which they have trade or cultural ties. This is natural, as such ties promote mutual respect between societies and countries.
In his turn, Andriy Yeremenko, founder of the research company Active Group, emphasized that the attitude of Ukrainians towards the Middle East and Central Asia varies depending on many factors.
“We can see that the attitude of citizens is really certain only in relation to two countries – Iran and Israel. These are the countries where the percentage of those who find it difficult to answer is less than 20%. The rest of the countries have a much higher percentage of uncertainty, which indicates that Ukrainians are not well informed about these countries,” emphasized Eremenko.
Maksym Urakin, founder of the Experts Club think tank, added that building cooperation with the Middle East and Central Asia is very important for the development of the Ukrainian economy, especially in the agricultural and IT sectors. These industries have great potential for development and can become the basis for a mutually beneficial partnership.
“It is necessary to implement a state strategy to reduce the trade deficit and increase Ukraine’s export potential. This will create a more balanced and sustainable economy that will be less dependent on external factors. Ukraine may be interested in agricultural products, IT clusters, and educational services. We are interested in sales markets, agricultural technologies, metallurgy, and chemistry,” Urakin emphasized.
According to him, trade between Ukraine and the countries under study is currently growing rapidly.
“Turkey is the largest trading partner among the countries of the Middle East and Central Asia, accounting for more than half of all trade with these countries. This shows the importance of Turkey for the Ukrainian economy,” the founder of Experts Club added.
According to Urakin, a balanced foreign economic policy in the region can not only significantly improve Ukraine’s relations with Middle Eastern countries, but also have a positive impact on the overall state of the economy.
The results of the study are available here.
ACTIVE GROUP, ALEXANDER POZNIY, ANDREY EREMENKO, CENTRAL_ASIA, ECONOMICS, EXPERTS CLUB, MAXIM URAKIN, MIDDLE_EAST, POLL, SOCIOLOGY