The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has signed a framework agreement with the French government on loan financing of projects to modernize water supply systems in Kyiv and Luhansk region in the amount of EUR 70 million each.
According to the draft decree of the Cabinet of Ministers on the signing of a framework agreement, a concessional treasury loan in the amount of EUR 70 million will be directed to the reconstruction of water supply facilities of the Dnipro and Desnianska waterworks. The project will improve the quality of water for a quarter of the capital’s population, says the government’s press service.
The second loan in the amount of EUR 70 million will finance a project to reconstruct the infrastructure for the production and distribution of drinking water at Popasna District Vodokanal utility company. As a result of modernization, it is planned to achieve a volume of water flow of 135,000 cubic meters per day, which will provide drinking water for more than 20 settlements.
Under the terms of the agreement, the loan is provided for 40 years, including a 15-year grace period. The loan rate is 0.0092% per annum. The condition for the provision of funds is the purchase of goods and services from France in the amount of at least 70% of the loan amount for the implementation of the project.
In addition, in order to obtain a loan, contracts between French suppliers and the project implementer must be accepted for execution by the end of 2022, and the loan must be selected by the end of 2026.
The framework agreement signed on Thursday by the governments of Ukraine and France, providing for the supply of 370 rescue vehicles-car lifters for the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in the amount of up to EUR 300 million, provides for the provision of financing by the French side in the amount of EUR 255 million (85% of the contract amount). According to the text of the framework agreement at the disposal of the Interfax-Ukraine agency, the support will consist of a treasury loan of up to EUR 100 million provided by the French government represented by Natixis, and a bank loan of up to EUR 155 million, which will be provided by a bank or consortium banks from the EU. Bpifrans Assurance Export will act as a guarantor for it.
The agent bank will be Ukreximbank (Kyiv), the equipment supplier will be the French company Desautel SAS.
According to the agreement, financial support is provided for the purchase of goods and services from France, and also provides for the purchase of Ukrainian or foreign goods for the implementation of the contract in the amount of up to 50% of the amount of financial support.
The maturity of treasury and bank loans is no more than 10 years.
The terms of the agreement stipulate that in order to receive financing through a loan, the contract must be accepted for implementation no later than December 31, 2023, and the loan must be selected by the end of 2028.
The supply of goods and services from French suppliers, as well as the import and use of related goods for their production will be subject to VAT, other taxes and duties at a “zero” rate.
As reported, within the framework of the contract, the production of firefighting car lifts to provide extinguishing fires and rescue people from high-rise buildings will be partially concentrated in Ukraine. The first samples will be made in France.
According to Mykola Chechetkin, chairman of the State Emergency Service, at the present time, the service units have only 290 units of high-altitude lifts at their disposal, of which 260 have worked out their resource.
The pharmaceutical company PJSC Farmak (Kyiv) has confirmed the compliance with the GMP of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), which is a prerequisite for registration/re-registration and sale of drugs in the markets of the EAEU member countries, in particular in Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan.
According to the company’s press release, the inspection of the pharmaceutical company at the beginning of 2021 was carried out by representatives of the Republic of Belarus, who checked production, warehouse, laboratory facilities and the functioning of the pharmaceutical quality system.
“The presence of the EAEU certificate becomes a prerequisite for the registration/re-registration and sale of drugs in the markets of the EAEU member states (Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, etc.) and will reduce the number of inspections carried out by local regulatory bodies of the EAEU member states,” a press release says.
The company is currently preparing to be tested for compliance with the FDA to enter the U.S. market, executive director of the Farmak company Volodymyr Kostiuk specified.
The company recalled that in 2020 the drug Dexamethasonum, which the company produces, successfully passed the WHO prequalification and is included in the list of drugs with confirmed quality and effectiveness in the treatment of HIV/AIDS and COVID-19.
As reported, Farmak at the end of 2020 increased the share of exports to 29.6% in total sales. Export deliveries by the end of the year increased by 40%.
On May, 15 and 16 Ancient Kyiv in the Principality of Kyivan Rus («Kyivan Rus Park») invites everyone to a grandiose event in the world of ancient martial arts – the Open horseback archery championship of Ukraine «Scythians».
The strongest horseback archers of Ukraine, prize-winners of the international championships will take part in the competitions. The experienced sportsmen-virtuosos in bright historical costumes will compete in shooting accuracy from a traditional (historical) bow at full gallop.
This is an incredibly difficult task for the competition participants, and at the same time, a thrilling and exciting spectacle for the audience!
The sportsmen and the actors-stuntmen will act in a tandem with the unique horses of rare ancient breeds gathered from all around the world in the Princely stable. Some of these horses can be seen nowhere else in Ukraine, because they were brought to our country in a single number. The horses can be palmed, taken a photo with, ridden on a horseback or in a carriage.
In between the competitions, the guests will be awaited by a bright entertaining program on a historical theme with horse performances and ancient Slavic amusements.
The guests of the Principality will not only be the festival viewers, but will get a chance to become active participants of the event and join fun and interesting games, contests, dance flash mobs and master-classes.
The event is held in accordance with the requirements of the quarantine regime.
Ancient Kyiv opens at 10:00. The program starts at 14:00.
* The event program is subject to change.
The ticket price: a full adult ticket – 250 UAH, for pensioners and students – 150 UAH, for schoolchildren – 100 UAH, for preschool children – for free.
Ancient Kyiv in the «Kyivan Rus Park» is located in Kyiv region, Obukhiv district, the vill. Kopachiv.
Details on the website www.parkkyivrus.com
The Interfax subscribers can save money with the “openbusiness-20” promo code for a 20%-discount for a full price adult ticket to the Principality of Kyivan Rus:
– by previous order by tel.: +38 044 461-99-37, +38 050 385-20-35
– or at the cash desk at the entrance to the «Kyivan Rus Park».
The Ministry of Culture and Information Policy informs that from May 15, passengers flying from Ukraine to Turkey do not need to present the results of PCR testing.
“From May 15, 2021, passengers flying from Ukraine to Turkey do not need to present the results of PCR testing. The Turkish government has canceled the requirement for them to present the results of PCR testing,” the press service of the Ministry of Culture said.
It is noted that this decision will enter into force on May 15, 2021 at 00:00 Kyiv time.
Cancellation of testing will also be implied to passengers from China, Vietnam, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, South Korea, Japan, Great Britain, Latvia, Luxembourg and Estonia.
Ukraine, as of May 5, imported 26,200 tonnes of raw cane sugar imported within the tariff quota of 260,000 tonnes, the Ministry of Economic Development, Trade and Agriculture of Ukraine reported on the website, citing data from the State Customs Service.
The agency clarified that the average cost of imported raw materials will be $480 per tonne, and the estimated cost of processed cane sugar, taking into account logistics costs and after paying mandatory payments, will be UAH 22,000-23,000 per tonne on the Ukrainian market. According to the Ministry of Economy, as of May 5, importers were issued licenses to import raw sugar from cane into Ukraine with a total volume of 170,000 tonnes.
The ministry specified that since the beginning of the 2020/2021 marketing year, imports of white sugar amounted to 67,000 tonnes with an average cost of $512 per tonne.
