According to Serbian Economist, the Serbian Ministry of Internal and Foreign Trade reported that on November 3, Minister Jagoda Lazarevic met with representatives of Carrefour, who confirmed their interest in entering the Serbian market. According to the ministry, the retail chain is considering direct entry without intermediaries, intends to make Serbia a regional hub and attract local suppliers; negotiations will continue and Carrefour’s top management will come to Serbia by the end of this year.
Serbian business publications, referring to the minister’s statement, specify that the working model is being discussed in several formats, including the search for local franchise partners, while the basic scenario is the direct presence of the chain. The ministry positions the possible arrival of a new player as a way to strengthen competition and offer a wider range of products at competitive prices.
Tanjug Agency notes that Carrefour’s interest in Serbia fits into the Balkan expansion of the chain; previously, specialized resources reported about the exclusive rights of the Greek structure to develop the brand in the region, but the current statements of Belgrade emphasize the direct entry into the market.
The company has not officially announced specific launch dates and locations.
Earlier, Serbian Economist reported about the chain’s negotiations about entering Serbia, but without final decisions. The final terms and format of the presence will depend on the results of the management visit, availability of suitable retail space and agreement of terms with the regulator and potential local partners.
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A week-long program for a group of children from the Zaporizhzhya region of Ukraine has started in Kotor, Montenegro. According to Boka News, 36 children arrived in the city, many of whom lost their parents to the war. The visit was agreed between Kotor Mayor Vladimir Jokic and Ukrainian Ambassador to Montenegro Oleg Gerasimenko. The program is scheduled for November 3-10.
At the reception in the Bisanti Chamber, the mayor welcomed the children and said that a cultural and educational itinerary has been prepared for them: a walk through the Old Town and a visit to the Maritime Museum, a trip to Perast and a boat trip on Boka Kotorska Bay, as well as meetings with peers in local schools. A climb of the city walls, a day trip to Lovcen and a vacation on Plavi Horizonte beach are planned.
The teachers accompanying the group thanked the residents and authorities of Kotor for their hospitality, noting the importance of emotional relief and safety for the children. Publications in local media and social networks specify the number of the group and dates of stay
On October 24, 2025, the second Ukrainian Electricians Championship, the Schneider Electric Cup, took place in Kyiv. The Electricians Championship is a competition aimed at bringing together the best professionals in the industry and promoting blue-collar professions.
Participants from different regions demonstrated their skills in practical tasks, competing for the title of the country’s best electrician. The event aimed to highlight the importance of the profession and attract young people’s attention to technical specialties.
This year, nine teams consisting of two to four participants selected based on the results of the preliminary stage (38 participants in total) competed in the championship. The teams included participants from Kharkiv, Kyiv, Odesa, Vinnytsia, Cherkasy, Khmelnytskyi, Zhytomyr, and Dnipro. They solved both theoretical tasks and a practical case study—assembling a modern professional electrical panel.
The event was organized by Schneider Electric, a leader in electrical management and automation, a global French company with 180 years of history, which has been present in Ukraine for over 30 years and is the largest electrical engineering company in Ukraine, together with the League of Masters, a community of professionals that brings together masters of various specialties to create a professional environment and promote blue-collar professions, as well as with the support of partner LAPP UKRAINE, a leader in innovation in cable and wire products, a company that offers a full range of solutions for electrical connections: from cables and connectors to ready-made systems and accessories.
“The Schneider Electric Cup is a combination of professionalism, technology, and passion for the business. We believe that the development of the energy industry begins with people — those who ensure the reliability, safety, and efficiency of electrical systems every day. By supporting such specialists, we are investing in the future of Ukraine, its energy sustainability, and sustainable development,” commented Mikhail Bubnov, CEO of Schneider Electric in Ukraine.
Compared to last year, the number of tasks was increased, and their complexity grew so that the masters could demonstrate their maximum potential. The winners and participants received not only valuable gifts, but also a unique experience, new acquaintances, and the thrill of real competition.
“It is important for us to create opportunities where electricians can demonstrate their knowledge and skills, experience team spirit, gain new experience, and learn about new technologies. The Schneider Electric Cup is not only a competition but also a celebration of the profession,” emphasized Maxim Sydorenko, leader of the Schneider Electric electricians channel.
In total, more than 500 participants from various construction industries took part in the Summit.
About Schneider Electric
Schneider Electric is a global leader in energy technology, delivering efficiency and sustainability through electrification, automation, and digitalization.
The company provides solutions for buildings, data centers, factories, infrastructure, and energy networks, creating open, interconnected ecosystems that increase productivity, resilience, and sustainability.
The portfolio includes smart devices, software-defined architectures, AI-based systems, digital services, and consulting.
Schneider Electric has 160,000 employees and more than 1 million partners in over 100 countries and is consistently ranked among the world’s most sustainable companies.
PJSC Zaporizhkox, one of Ukraine’s largest producers of coke and chemical products and a member of the Metinvest Group, increased its blast furnace coke production by 2.7% in January-October this year compared to the same period last year, from 729,100 tons to 748,700 tons.
According to the company, 79 thousand tons of coke were produced in October, compared to 77.1 thousand tons in the previous month.
As reported, Zaporizhkox increased its production of blast furnace coke by 2.1% in 2024 compared to 2023, to 874,700 tons from 856,800 tons.
In 2023, Zaporizhkox increased its output of blast furnace coke by 16% compared to 2022, to 856,800 tons from 737,400 tons.
Zaporizhkox has a complete technological cycle for processing coke chemical products.
Metinvest is a vertically integrated mining group of companies. Its main shareholders are SCM Group (71.24%) and Smart Holding (23.76%). Metinvest Holding LLC is the managing company of the Metinvest Group.
Ukrainian chain of home-style semi-prepared food stores MULTI COOK has opened a new outlet in Sarasota, Florida (USA), the company announced on Facebook.
“Come and get our homemade semi-finished products — quick, tasty, and homemade,” the company invited.
The MULTI COOK chain is being developed by Vladimir Matviychuk, former co-founder of the Galya Baluvana brand.
MULTI COOK has stores in more than 20 countries, including the US, Poland, Spain, Bulgaria, France, the Netherlands, Slovakia, and others. In addition, Matviychuk is developing MULTIBAR, a format of MULTI COOK stores that allows customers not only to purchase semi-finished products but also to taste ready-made dishes.
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), part of the World Bank Group, will contribute $25 million to the Rebuild Ukraine Fund LP (REBUF) private equity fund, which was launched a year ago by leading Ukrainian investment group Dragon Capital.
According to the IFC website, its board of directors approved the project at a meeting on November 3.
The corporation specified that REBUF is focused on small and medium-sized enterprises, has a target size of $250 million, and is a universal fund that focuses on consumer goods and services, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, financial services, agriculture-related sectors, construction materials, retail, and technology.
“The fund aims to acquire controlling stakes through buyout or growth capital strategies in mature companies,” the IFC added.
According to the materials, the investment will be backed by a first-loss guarantee of 50% of its amount, supported by France and other guarantors.
As the corporation noted, its contribution as an anchor investor will be crucial in supporting the fund in achieving its first closing in a challenging fundraising environment. The IFC recalled that since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, only one private equity fund has been launched, and its successful closing required significant support from development finance institutions (DFIs), including the anchor role of the IFC (the $350 million Horizon Capital Growth Fund IV – IF-U). REBUF is expected to require similar support and will be financed primarily by DFIs, according to published materials.
Andriy Nosok, managing director and head of direct investments at Dragon Capital, announced at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome in July that the company would invest $20 million of its own funds in REBUF. In addition, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development approved a decision to contribute $25 million to the fund in early July. According to Nosok, the first closing of the fund was planned for September this year.
He recalled that Dragon Capital has been investing in private equity in Ukraine for 25 years, including managing direct investment funds since 2010. REBUF is the third such fund, which follows the same strategy as the previous ones. According to the REBUF presentation, the size of investments in companies is $7-30 million.
Dragon Capital is one of the largest investment groups in Ukraine in the field of investment and financial services, providing a full range of investment banking and brokerage services, direct investments, and asset management for institutional, corporate, and private clients. The company was founded in 2000 in Kyiv. According to founder and CEO Tomas Fiala, the group’s investment portfolio currently includes nearly 50 different companies or real estate projects. Between 2015 and 2021, the company invested approximately $700 million in Ukraine, excluding reinvestments, and plans to invest $100 million in 2025.
As reported, the EBRD and IFC also plan to contribute EUR60 million and EUR40 million, respectively, to the capital of the new Amber Dragon Ukraine Infrastructure Fund I with a declared target size of EUR350 million. The EBRD Board of Directors will consider this project on December 3. The European Investment Bank (EIB) already approved a contribution of EUR40 million to this fund at the end of September.
