Pivdenne (Yuzhnoye) Design Bureau, Makarov Pivdenny (Yuzhny) Machine-Building Plant (Pivdenmash, Dnipro) and Italian Avio SpA have reached an agreement on additional supplies of 10 Ukrainian-made propulsion engine blocks for the Vega launch vehicle (LV) for a total amount of almost EUR 6 million, according to the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
According to its Friday press release, the Italian side confirmed its readiness to expand cooperation on April 28.
“The expansion of participation in the European Vega program testifies to the reliability and competition of engineering developments in the Ukrainian rocket and space industry. Support of such contracts is one of the top priorities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the efforts of Ukrainian diplomats in Italy played an important role in reaching this agreement,” the press service said, citing Minister Dmytro Kuleba.
According to Chief Economist at Pivdenmash Dmytro Nikon, the current contract contains an option providing for the manufacture of additional 10 units.
“We are thankful to the Ukrainian diplomats who kept the case under control, repeatedly contacted both the company’s management and representatives of the Italian Space Agency, which led to a positive result,” he said.
Chief Designer of the Design Bureau of Liquid Propellant Rocket Engines of the Pivdenne Design Bureau Oleksandr Prokopchuk said that cooperation with Avio S.p.A. is a clear example of the integration of the Ukrainian rocket and space industry into European space programs.
According to the press release, the current contract for the supply of 11 propulsion engine blocks is effective until 2023. Seven blocks have already been delivered, one will be shipped to the customer in the near future, and three more are being manufactured.
The Vega light launch vehicle is a joint project of the European Space Agency and the Italian Space Agency. Pivdenne Design Bureau and Pivdenmash cooperate with the Italian Avio S.p.A. under the Vega program since 2004, during this time more than 20 propulsion engine blocks were manufactured and delivered, the last of which were at the beginning of 2021.
A feature of the propulsion engine blocks is the ability to launch multiple times during flight (up to five launches), which ensures the deployment of satellites into different orbits. Italy is one of the founding countries of the European Space Agency and is among the top three contributors along with Germany and France.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will arrive in Kyiv for a two-day visit on May 5, Department Spokesperson Ned Price said in a statement released on Friday.
“The Secretary will travel to Kyiv, Ukraine, May 5-6, where he will meet with President [Volodymyr] Zelensky, Foreign Minister [Dmytro] Kuleba, other officials and representatives of Ukrainian civil society to reaffirm unwavering U.S. support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of Russia’s ongoing aggression,” the spokesperson said.
“He will also encourage continued progress on Ukraine’s institutional reform agenda, particularly anti-corruption action, which is key to securing Ukraine’s democratic institutions, economic prosperity, and Euro-Atlantic future,” the spokesperson said.
Earlier, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba said that during a meeting with Blinken he plans to discuss the assistance that the United States can provide to Ukraine in the reform process, as well as a number of economic issues, especially in the energy sector.
Internal and external debt of Ukraine IN 2009-2020
Over the past six months, eight new markets have been opened for Ukrainian exporters, 63 commodity items have been reconciled in 11 states and international economic organizations, the State Service on Food Safety and Consumer Protection has said in a press release on Friday. According to the State Food Service, in six months the markets of Japan, Libya, Argentina and Lebanon have opened for Ukrainian producers of milk and dairy products. Domestic producers were able to supply eggs to Ethiopia, animal protein to Serbia, and cattle to the UAE. The Lithuanian market is now open for the export of arachnids (insects used to protect crops).
“In addition, 63 commodity items in 11 states and international economic organizations have been reconciled. First of all, we are talking about the CIS countries, with which new trade rules are in force from April 13, 2021 due to the termination of the agreement on cooperation in the field of veterinary medicine, which was signed back in 1993. Also, due to changes in the terms of trade, documents were renegotiated with Singapore and South Korea,” the press service said.
The agency reported on the work on the audit of the European Commission in order to assess the official control over the production and certification of milk and dairy products intended for export to the European Union. Also, work was carried out for the EU to recognize the zoning of Ukraine for highly pathogenic poultry influenza, thanks to which the export of poultry products to the EU was resumed from March 20.
The state service also announced the continuation of work to open markets on all continents. The most promising for export are the EU countries, China, Singapore, India, Vietnam, South Africa and Indonesia.
“An important priority for us is to work on opening new markets for the export of Ukrainian products. After all, these are new jobs and income to the state budget from taxes,” Head of the service Vladyslava Mahaletska said.
All schools and kindergartens in Kyiv will resume their work on Wednesday, May 5. At the same time, the educational process in schools will not be extended for summer, mayor of the capital Vitali Klitschko said.
“On May 5, Kyiv will restore the educational process in schools, kindergartens, institutions of vocational education, colleges and higher educational institutions. All 428 schools in the capital and 572 kindergartens will be opened. I also note that the educational process in Kyiv schools will not be extended for the summer.” Students will complete the school year as usual, at the end of May. Since during the lockdown, classes were held remotely, according to the approved program,” Klitschko said at an online briefing on Friday.
He said that the heads of educational institutions received an order for enhanced disinfection and regular ventilation of the premises.
“I want to separately address the parents. Be attentive to the health of your children. At the first symptoms of the disease, contact your family doctor. And explain to your children the need to follow simple but important rules. Because, as we can see, the virus has become more aggressive towards children as well. Many of them get sick in a more severe form and with complications,” Klitschko said.
The mayor also reported that on Saturday, May 1, Kyiv returns to the boundaries of the “orange” zone of epidemiological danger. Shops, malls, markets and fairs, catering establishments, gyms and fitness centers will reopen in the city.
Also, all the public transport in the capital will operate as usual, in compliance with previously defined anti-epidemic standards.
The net profit of UkrSibbank (Kyiv) in 2020 amounted to UAH 1.324 billion, which is two times less than in 2019 (UAH 2.615 billion).
According to a report on the bank’s website, net interest income for 2020 decreased by 1.3 times, to UAH 3.295 billion, while net commission income remained at UAH 1.7 billion.
By the end of 2020, the bank’s assets increased by 36%, to UAH 72.298 billion, including funds in other financial institutions – by 2.3 times, to UAH 23.5 billion, securities and investments – by 1.4 times, to UAH 18.3 billion, while loans to customers remained at the level of UAH 21 billion.
The bank’s liabilities last year increased by 1.4 times, to UAH 64.13 billion, including customer funds – by 1.4 times, to UAH 63 billion.
The bank’s equity capital in 2020 increased by 19.1%, to UAH 8.17 billion.
The charter capital remained at the level of UAH 5.07 billion.
UkrSibbank was founded in 1990. Its shareholders are BNP Paribas S.A (France), which owns 60% of the bank’s charter capital, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development with 40%.
According to the NBU, as of March 1, 2021, in terms of total assets (UAH 70.322 billion), UkrSibbank ranked eighth among 73 operating banks in Ukraine.
