Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced a launch of the new state program dubbed “Come Back and Stay.”
“Dear Ukrainians, I said during my swearing-in ceremony that there are 65 million of us Ukrainians across the globe, and our country badly needs you, your knowledge, your talents and mental values. We very much want you to come home. We also want to see those who have unfortunately given up in despair and are planning to leave Ukraine stay here,” Zelensky said in a video address on his Facebook page on Tuesday.
Affordable loans for those who wish to start or expand their own business will be the first step under this program, the Ukrainian president said.
“The loan amount will be UAH 1.5 million for five years. There will be the following interest rates: 5% for an existing or new business that will create at least two jobs, 7% for a new or existing business with revenues below UAH 25 million that creates no jobs, but if you hire a new employee, the rate will be cut by 0.5% with every new worker hired; and 9% for anyone presently working with revenues from UAH 25 to UAH 50 million, who wishes to expand their business,” Zelensky said.
Detailed information about conditions and mechanisms to facilitate the program and about its further stages will be available soon, he said.
“We have a lot more interesting ideas. If you’ve been dreaming of opening your own coffee shop, or car service, or barber shop, or wishing to expand your convenience store, cheese dairy or furniture factory, basically, any kind of business, please do come back and stay […] Let’s build a successful and flourishing Ukraine. And let’s do it together!” Zelensky said.
Zelensky, who took office of Ukrainian president on May 20 this year, promised Ukrainian citizenship to all ethnic Ukrainians across the globe willing to work for the benefit of the nation.
Official rates of banking metals from national bank as of December 04
One troy ounce=31.10 grams
National bank of Ukraine’s official rates as of 04/12/19
Source: National Bank of Ukraine
Ukraine in January-November 2019 increased transit of natural gas through its gas transmission system (GTS) by 2.9% (by 2.327 billion cubic meters) compared to the same period in 2018, to 81.494 billion cubic meters, according to recent data from JSC Ukrtransgaz. According to the calculations of the Interfax-Ukraine agency, in particular gas transit through the country to Europe for the 11 months amounted to 78.960 billion cubic meters (3.1% more compared to January-November 2018), to Moldova some 2.534 billion cubic meters (0.9% down).
In November 2019, gas transit rose by 15.4% (by 1.095 billion cubic meters) compared to the same month of 2018, to 8.197 billion cubic meters. In particular, gas transit through Ukraine to Europe amounted to 7.910 billion cubic meters (16.8% more), Moldova some 286.9 million cubic meters (13.1% less).
JSC Ukrtransnafta and PJSC Transneft (Russia) have signed an additional agreement to the contract for oil transit through Ukraine, thus extending the contract for ten years until January 1, 2030, the press service of Ukrtransnafta has reported.
The corresponding supplementary agreement was signed on December 3.
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has launched a EUR 400 million project to provide long-term financing for small and medium enterprises in the agricultural sector of Ukraine. “The EIB loan will be made available through financial intermediaries to private and public sector final beneficiaries, and is further supported by the EU and the United Kingdom through a combined grant amount of EUR 5.5 million for technical assistance services,” the bank said in a press release.
“The EIB funds will provide long-term finance to support productive investments by SMEs and mid-caps, as well as public service providers, along the entire value chain. Potential beneficiaries, therefore, include input suppliers, farmers, processors, and storage and logistics operators, as well as testing laboratories, research and education institutions and extension services that contribute to the functioning of the target value chains,” the report says.
“The cereals, oil seeds and aquaculture/fisheries value chains are being targeted by the program, as they have been identified as being best placed to satisfy domestic demand for quality produce and to increase the competitiveness of the sector and its exports to the EU and global markets,” according to the document.
The EIB announced the start of cooperation with Ukraine on the project for EUR 400 million in 2015. Since that time, a series of negotiations took place to determine the structure, technical executives, and the model for providing financing.
