JSC Ukrzaliznytsia has launched the first container train with export cargo on the route Ukraine – China. As Interfax-Ukraine was informed at the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine on Tuesday, the train departed from the Liski container terminal in Kyiv.
The train consisted of 43 40-foot containers with lumber.
Following to Xian, the train will cover almost 10,000 km across the territory of four countries. Estimated travel time is about 18 days.
“In the middle of September, we received the 50th container train with imported cargo from China. Today, we are sending the first container train with Ukrainian cargo to China. We plan that these trains will become regular,” Board Chairman of Ukrzaliznytsia Oleksandr Kamyshin said.
According to him, the optimal transport for the development of trade relations between Ukraine and China is rail container transportation.
The Ukrzaliznytsia’s branch Liski provides a range of services in the field of organizing railway and intermodal transportation of transit and export-import cargoes in containers. The terminal allows for complex forwarding services for customers’ cargo with door-to-door delivery of cargo through the territory of the CIS, Baltic countries and Europe.
The center has container terminals in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Odesa and a transshipment complex in Chop.
The international rating agency R&I has affirmed the rating of Ukraine as an issuer in foreign currency at “B+” with a stable outlook.
“Ukraine’s economy is heading for recovery after the coronavirus-induced contraction. The fiscal deficit has widened due mainly to economic measures, but is expected to narrow in 2021 from a year earlier. Furthermore, a rise in the government debt ratio will most likely be modest. Since the government plans to move ahead with fiscal consolidation from 2022 onward, its fiscal position would basically improve, in R&I’s view,” the agency said on its website.
“Despite a delay in disbursements under the financial support program of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the government has ensured stable funding. As the government commits to continue a talk with the IMF, progress in structural reforms and loan disbursements can be envisaged to a certain extent. Based on these considerations, R&I has affirmed the Foreign Currency Issuer Rating at B+,” the report says.
“Given slow progress in vaccination compared to other European countries, a resurgence of the coronavirus may hinder an economic recovery, which warrants attention. In the medium to long term, the key to stable, high growth lies in the reinforcement of institutional frameworks for reducing corruption and ensuring compliance, for instance,” it said.
Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Dmytro Razumkov signed a law on preventing and countering anti-Semitism in Ukraine.
As noted in the card of the relevant bill No. 5109, the speaker signed it on September 29 and handed it over to President Volodymyr Zelensky for signature.
The bill defines anti-Semitism, prohibits anti-Semitism and its manifestations, and provides for liability for violation of anti-Semitism legislation.
According to the document, manifestations of anti-Semitism are, in particular, the call, concealment or justification of killing or harming persons of Jewish origin, giving false information, hateful statements about them, denying the fact of the persecution and mass extermination of Jews during the Second World War (Holocaust), making, distribution of any materials containing anti-Semitic statements, as well as public use of materials, symbols and images of anti-Semitic content.
At the same time, the law includes deliberate damage, destruction or desecration of buildings, other structures belonging to persons of Jewish origin, Jewish communities and public Jewish organizations, as well as religious or religious buildings (houses), burial places of persons of Jewish origin, monuments, as and the public use of materials, symbols and images of anti-Semitic content.
At the same time, the law includes deliberate damage, destruction or desecration of buildings, other structures belonging to persons of Jewish origin, Jewish communities and public Jewish organizations, as well as religious or religious buildings (houses), burial places of persons of Jewish origin, monuments, memorial signs dedicated to Jews, based on anti-Semitism.
Persons guilty of violating the norms of this draft law will incur civil, administrative and criminal liability in accordance with the law, as well as compensation for material damage and moral harm caused as a result of anti-Semitism, its manifestations, will be carried out in the manner determined by the legislation of Ukraine.
This law will come into force the next day after its publication in the parliamentary newspaper Holos Ukrainy (Voice of Ukraine).
As reported, on September 22, the Verkhovna Rada adopted draft law No. 5109 at the second reading and in general.
The electromobility department of ABB (Asea Brown Boveri Ltd, Sweden-Switzerland) has announced an investment in the Ukrainian startup Go To-U.
“This is the first equity round of the company’s investments, led by ABB EL Ventures and ABB Technology Ventures. The startup is also supported by the Techstars accelerator,” the companies said in a joint release.
The size of the investment has not been specified.
ABB indicates that this investment by its ABB EL Ventures and ABB Technology Ventures (ATV) divisions has expanded the strategic portfolio of ABB’s venture capital firms and its electromobility division, while Go To-U clarifies that it will remain a platform compatible with equipment from the leading manufacturers.
“The investment will contribute to the commercialization of GO TO-U software technology and further product development. The GO TO-U solution will be available worldwide,” the statement said.
Go To-U was founded in Lviv in 2016-2017, its software is aimed at owners of electric vehicles – the application is a map of charging stations with the ability to book and pay for services. The platform unites more than 300,000 charging stations in 47 countries of the world. In addition, the company provides services for the sale and installation of charging stations.
The startup took part in the European climate innovation voucher programs for the development of the client side of the back office for EUR50,000 and the ImpactConnected Cars acceleration program from Horizon2020 fund for EUR60,000. Earlier, in 2020, Go To-U received an investment of $ 100,000 from the accelerator Techstars, the company was valued at $ 3 million. The company’s headquarters are currently listed in Los Angeles.
ABB is an international company specializing in electrical engineering, power engineering and information technology, founded in 1988 after the merger of ASEA (Sweden) and Brown, Boveri & Cie (Switzerland), and is represented in more than 100 countries. Its manufacturing facilities are located in over 15 countries.
Volume of construction products produced by type in Jan-July of 2021 (mln UAH)
On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the murders in Babyn Yar, Israeli President Isaac Herzog will make his first official visit to Ukraine, according to the Israeli Embassy in Ukraine.”During his official visit to Ukraine, President Herzog will speak at events dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Babyn Yar massacre, meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky and Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, address the Verkhovna Rada and meet with representatives of the Ukrainian Jewish community. The visit is expected on October 5 to 7, 2021,” the embassy said in the statement, which was provided to Interfax-Ukraine on Wednesday.
The Duke will arrive in Ukraine on Tuesday, October 5, 2021, on the first official visit of his presidency, at the invitation of President Volodymyr Zelensky.
During the visit, President Herzog will take part in the official international ceremony dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the murders at Babyn Yar, the opening of Kyiv Holocaust Memorial Center in Babyn Yar. Zeev Elkin, a government representative in Ukraine, and other members of the Knesset will also join the presidential delegation, the embassy said.
“There is a need to keep talking about this terrible event and learning its lessons. The Holocaust Memorial Center at Babyn Yar is an important place to celebrate this painful memory and to make a statement that we must continue to make together: never again. The only way to build a present and a future in which crimes against humanity will not find support – it is to study the past, including the Holocaust and the persecution of the Jewish people, in the spirit of the commandment “and you will tell your son and daughter.” I welcome the invitation of President Zelensky and his dedication to the war against anti-Semitism,” the embassy said.
On the morning of Tuesday, October 5, President Herzog will fly to Ukraine, where he will start his visit by laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Kyiv, and then go to an official reception at the Mariinsky Palace, which will start with a guard of honor.
Later, President Herzog will meet with President Zelensky. The meeting will be followed by a joint press statement. In the evening, President Zelensky will receive President Herzog at an official dinner.
On Wednesday morning, President Herzog will address the Verkhovna Rada. On the same day, President Herzog will take part in an event with the local Jewish community and will meet with President of the Federal Republic of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who will also attend the Babyn Yar memorial ceremony.
On Wednesday afternoon, President Herzog will deliver a speech at the official ceremony to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Babyn Yar murders at the Babyn Yar Holocaust Memorial Center in Kyiv, the embassy said.
