PrJSC Ukrainian Danube Navigation plans to raise up to EUR 200 million in the next five years to modernize the fleet, acting chairman of the board of the Ukrainian Danube Navigation Oleksiy Khomiakov has told Interfax-Ukraine.
He also estimates the size of investments in the new fleet or in-depth modernization of the existing fleet of all market players that will be necessary to implement the full potential of the Dnipro River in the next five years in the amount of about EUR 1.7 billion.
“In the next five years, we plan to raise up to EUR 200 million, which will be used to modernize the fleet that is in the holding anchorage, as well as the possible construction of new units in cooperation with leading shipyards in the world,” Khomiakov said.
According to him, the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine evaluates the Ukrainian Danube Navigation as the main national carrier, served to make up for the missing system offer to the main exporters of Ukraine for transportation along the Dnipro River.
He said that the company is negotiating with the institutional investors, who are interested in collaborating and investing in a new, more environmentally preferred and efficient fleet, capable of fully meeting Ukraine’s export needs for decades ahead, complementing the overloaded railway and automobile infrastructure.
“However, we still need to overcome a number of obstacles by creating an effective model of enterprise management, having an international audit performed, raising government guarantees and then come close to receiving relevant financing from the EBRD, the IFC, etc.,” Khomiakov said.
The Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics (IMBG) is developing multi-test systems for the diagnosis of COVID-19 against seasonal flu-like illnesses, said Viktor Liashko, the Deputy Minister of Health and Chief Sanitary Doctor of Ukraine.
“Influenza-like diseases span about 200 viruses. We actively cooperate with our academic institutes. IMBG has developed test systems [for diagnosing COVID-19 by PCR method]. Today it is developing a multi-test system that will allow us to conduct certain tests and will show percentage content of those viruses that circulate during this period of increased viral diseases,” he said on the NV Radio on Thursday.
Commenting on the likelihood of a second wave of the COVID-19 epidemic, Liashko noted that it will be more likely during the seasonal growth of influenza and flu-like illnesses.
“It is this second wave that we fear. Then there may be serious growth of incidences. In such cases, the combination of infections is possible, and it will be difficult to diagnose which pathogen caused the disease: flu or coronavirus,” he said.
National bank of Ukraine’s official rates as of 12/06/20
Source: National Bank of Ukraine
Official rates of banking metals from national bank as of June 12
One troy ounce=31.10 grams
Foreigners will need to have insurance for entry to Ukraine as soon as international flights are resumed, Health Minister of Ukraine Maksym Stepanov has said during a press briefing in Kyiv.
A possibility of testing the passengers for coronavirus (COVID-19) is also being considered.
“Speaking about border crossing and the resumption of international flights scheduled for June 15, we jointly with the Infrastructure Ministry suggest introducing the ‘red’ and ‘green’ zones. The ‘red’ zone will include the countries where the epidemiological situation is worse than in Ukraine, the ‘green’ one is [the countries] with a better situation. The ‘green’ zone foresees observation and self-isolation. In addition, we are considering a possibility of testing, but only by medical workers. At the same time, those who arrive in Ukraine must be insured. We are working on all of these issues,” Stepanov said.
The Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine will insist on the adoption by the Verkhovna Rada of the law on the abolition of value added tax (VAT) on internal flights, Infrastructure Minister Vladyslav Krykliy has said.
“Aviation is gradually returning to the sky. Internal regular passenger flights started on June 5, and international flights will resume on June 15. There are still challenges for the industry. Therefore, we will insist on the fact, that the Verkhovna Rada support the abolition of value added tax for internal flights,” he wrote on his Telegram channel on Thursday, June 11.
Earlier, SkyUp Airlines (Kyiv) announced the urgent need to abolish VAT on domestic flights in order to maintain affordable prices for tickets within geographic expansion.
