National energy company Ukrenergo during procurement of goods, labor and services in 2019 saved 15% (UAH 219 million) of their expected cost, the company’s press service has reported. According to the company, the total volume of more than 5,000 procurement tenders last year was UAH 1.25 billion. The share of construction, reconstruction, repair and design services was 27% (UAH 342.9 million), economic goods – 21% (UAH 263 million) and basic equipment – 20% (UAH 243.2 million).
“Since 2016, we have reviewed almost all estimates and project decisions, thanks to which we have received two-digit figure savings. However, such a high indicator is positive only at the initial stages of the procurement system reform, when the expected prices are too high. Today, we have switched to careful procurement planning, when the savings depends only on competition at the auction,” Head of Ukrenergo Vsevolod Kovalchuk said.
Viber application was installed on 96% of smartphones of Ukrainian residents in 2019, the press service of the application has reported, referring to an independent study by Kantar. According to the report, 33% of Viber users in Ukraine are young people aged 25 to 34 years, almost 16% are from 18 to 24 years old. The most popular Viber is in Kyiv, Lviv and Kharkiv.
According to Viber, more than half of all users in the country are women (55%), and the share of men is 45%.
By the number of messages sent, the most active were the residents of Kyiv – 14%. The second place is occupied by Lviv (5%), followed by Kharkiv (4%) and Dnipro (2%).
Kyivans get used to make free calls via Viber (14% of all outgoing calls in Ukraine), as well as residents of Lviv (4.5%), Kharkiv (4%), Dnipro (2%) and Zaporizhia (2%).
Viber is a call and messaging application created in December 2010.
Viber is currently part of the Rakuten Inc. group headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.
A visa-free regime of entry into Ukraine and a transit via Ukraine was introduced for the citizens of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, was introduced on a temporary basis from January 31, 2020 to January 30, 2021. Respective decree No.28/2020 as of January 29 signed by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky was posted on the president’s website.
“To introduce from January 31, 2020 to January 30, 2021 a visa-free regime of entry into Ukraine and transit via the territory of Ukraine for the citizens of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, if their stay in Ukraine does not exceed 90 days within 180 days,” reads the text of the decree.
The decree comes into force on the day it was published.
Kovalska Industrial Construction Group has invested UAH 80 million in the modernization of the production complex of PrJSC TNC Granit (Korosten district of Zhytomyr region), expects to increase the volume of crushed stone production in the quarry by 20%. “TNC Granit annually produces up to 1.4 million cubic meters of crushed stone. Updating the equipment will increase production by 20% … Kovalska allocated UAH 80 million of investments for the modernization of the quarry. The work lasted nine months. During this time the complex was updated by 30-40%,” the company’s press service said.
In particular, according to its data, 17 units of new equipment were put into operation as a result of the upgrade.
“From now on, our capacities allow us not only to provide the Kovalska group of companies with high quality raw materials, but also sell crushed stone to external partners,” Serhiy Pylypenko, the director general of Kovalska, said.
Kovalska has been operating in the construction market of Ukraine since 1956. It is the leading manufacturer of construction materials, the developer and builder of the country. It combines two quarries and nine factories manufacturing construction materials.
In addition, the group includes Kovalska Real Estate, which is engaged in construction of residential objects in Kyiv.
The Wuhan coronavirus will have a minimum effect on the economy of Ukraine due to low international tourist inflow in the country, Economic Development, Trade and Agriculture Minister of Ukraine Tymofiy Mylovanov has said.
“Usually it may directly affect tourism – tourism slows down. Unfortunately, or in this case fortunately, international tourism inflow is low in Ukraine – a mere 2% of GDP,” he said at a press briefing following the government’s meeting on Wednesday, adding that transporters and tour operators, who are working on foreign markets, including China, might suffer some expenses on the evacuation of people, however, in general, the effect will be minimal.
“We are not forecasting a negative effect [of the coronavirus] on goods turnover. Actually, using the opportunity, we have eliminated several trade barriers for export to China, but this is not related to the coronavirus,” the minister said.
On February, 1 and 2 a «Horse program – interactive with the visitors» will take place near Kyiv in the «Kyivan Rus Park». During these days guests will get acquainted with the unique horses of historical breeds. An unforgettable journey into the epoch of the Middle Ages, live communication with the purebred horses, ancient Slavic winter amusements, master-classes, delicious dishes prepared on open-fire by the princely cooks and a lot more of new and interesting from the life of our ancestors will be waiting for the guests.
Ancient Kyiv opens at 10:00. The program starts at 13:30.
The ticket price: a full adult ticket – 190 UAH, for pensioners and students – 150 UAH, for schoolchildren – 80 UAH, for preschool children – for free.
Ancient Kyiv in the «Kyivan Rus Park» is located in the vill. Kopachiv, Obukhiv district, Kyiv region.
Route taxis leave from Kyiv from the «Vydybitchi» metro station.
Detailed information 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».
