Business news from Ukraine

Business news from Ukraine

UGW EXPERT CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD IN FEBRUARY

Updating of Ukrainian Gaming Week format! UGW Expert Conference Will Be Held in February, and Large-Scale Ukrainian Gaming Week Gambling Exhibition To Take Place in March
After analyzing the requests of the gambling community and taking into account the interests of all market players, Smile-Expo decided to change the format of Ukrainian Gaming Week 2021 – instead of one specialized event, company will separately organize an expert conference and an exhibition of solutions for the gambling industry.
UGW conference: program, features and top speakers
Date: February 24, 2021
Location: Premier Palace Hotel, Kyiv
UGW conference is a unique platform for the exchange of knowledge about the launch, development and formation of the Ukrainian gambling market. Informative presentations, panel discussion and productive networking will welcome guests of the event. The speakers will be representatives of state authorities, members of specialized associations, Ukrainian and foreign specialists of various profiles.
Event will feature:
∙ Ivan Rudyi – Chairman of the Commission for Regulation of Gambling and Lotteries.
∙ Taras Tarasenko – People’s Deputy of Ukraine of the 9th session, a member of the Servant of the People faction.
∙ Marian Zablotskyi – Deputy of the Verkhovna Rada, representative of the Servant of the People faction.
∙ Ilya Machavariani – Senior Partner at 4H consulting agency.
∙ Anton Kuchukhidze – Head of the Gambling Association of Ukraine.
Experts will analyze the main provisions of the law on the regulation of gambling activities in Ukraine, talk about the requirements for advertising gambling establishments and discuss the prospects for the development of the industry. In addition, experts will present an anti-crisis strategy for bookmakers, explain how to form a positive image of the gambling business among population and address other crucial topics.
A complete list of speakers and topics of their presentations can be found on the official website.
Ukrainian Gaming Week 2021 exhibition: dates and program
In the context of COVID-19 pandemic, in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus infection, quarantine restrictions are introduced in different parts of the world: Great Britain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, etc. In some countries, stricter requirements for crossing the state border are established.
Ukrainian Gaming Week 2021 exhibition will become the largest industry event after the legalization of the gambling business, which will unite the leaders of the global gambling market. However, due to quarantine restrictions, foreign participants and guests may experience difficulties making international travel. Thus, they might not have the opportunity to come to Ukraine on the dates previously announced for the exhibition, which will make it impossible to hold the event on the planned scale.
Taking into account the current circumstances, the organizer of Ukrainian Gaming Week –Smile-Expo international company decided to reschedule the specialized event to the spring of 2021.
New dates of the exhibition: March 23-24.
Venue: KyivExpoPlaza.
The decision of rescheduling the event and choosing a new location will enable even more participants and guests to join the show.
Activities for exhibition attendees
Ukrainian Gaming Week 2021 program includes a two-day exhibition, an open lecture zone, UGW Awards ceremony and a party.
Event will feature cutting-edge products and services for the gambling industry. Ukrainian and international companies will become the exhibitors, featuring hardware manufacturers, software developers, payment aggregators, affiliate programs, etc.
At the open lecture hall, gambling experts will discuss crucial issues for the industry, analyze practical cases and present new products.
On the first day of the event – March 23, UGW Awards will award the representatives of the gambling industry who have achieved the greatest success. The winners will be awarded at a private party.
Don’t miss your last chance to buy tickets to UGW conference at the best price!
Starting from February 1, the price on “Conference” category tickets will be increased to 8,000 UAH, and on VIP category – up to 10,000 UAH.
Guests who manage to register before the end of January will be able to buy tickets at the most favorable price. The price on tickets in the “Conference” category until January 31 will be 5,000 UAH, VIP – 8,000 UAH.
Note! All UGW conference attendees automatically get a ticket to Ukrainian Gaming Week 2021 exhibition.
Join the industry events by Smile-Expo and participate in the revival of the legal gambling market in Ukraine!
Program and registration: ugw.com.ua.

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UKRAINE TO RECEIVE ASTRAZENECA VACCINE NEXT WEEK

The vaccine produced by AstraZeneca may be delivered to Ukraine next week, Chief State Sanitary Doctor Viktor Liashko said.

“We are waiting for the Pfizer vaccine. Perhaps the first will be the AstraZeneca vaccine. We will receive two products next week. There are questions about the Pfizer vaccine, which we receive as part of the COVAX initiative, which is supplied to Ukraine for free,” Liashko said on the air of the Right to Power (Pravo na Vladu) program on 1+1 TV channel on Thursday night.

He noted that bureaucratic processes are currently underway.

Liashko said that vaccines would be used in Ukraine after their registration.

According to the Chief State Sanitary Doctor, Ukraine has agreed on a contract for the supply of 12 million doses of vaccines produced by AstraZeneca and Novavax. The drugs will be shipped from India, where they are manufactured at the facilities of the Serum Institute.

Also, through the COVAX mechanism, Ukraine should receive from 2.2 million to 3.7 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine in the first half of the year.

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NATIONAL BANK OF UKRAINE’S OFFICIAL RATES AS OF 11/02/21

National bank of Ukraine’s official rates as of 11/02/21

Source: National Bank of Ukraine

OFFICIAL RATES OF BANKING METALS FROM NATIONAL BANK AS OF FEBRUARY 11

Official rates of banking metals from national bank as of February 11

One troy ounce=31.10 grams

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EU TO SUPPORT COVID-19 VACCINATION IN UKRAINE WITH EUR 40 MLN PROJECT

The European Union will support vaccination against coronavirus (COVID-19) disease in Ukraine with project worth EUR 40 million to provide critical assistance to ensure local readiness and preparedness for safe and effective vaccination of the population in each of the six Eastern Partnership countries, according to a press release from the EU Delegation to Ukraine.
“The European Union [EU] and the WHO Regional Office for Europe will work together in a major effort to support deployment of COVID-19 vaccines and vaccination in Ukraine. The project, funded by the EU and implemented by the Regional Office, will cover all phases – constituting ‘end-to-end’ support – of COVID-19 vaccine deployment and vaccination. It will also serve as a major investment to strengthen routine immunization system,” a press release, posted on the delegation’s website on Thursday, said.
The project will be implemented by WHO over a three-year period as part of a EUR 40 million European Union-funded initiative to support the Eastern Partnership countries in preparing for, deploying and monitoring the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines.
“The European Union has stood by Ukraine since the onset of the pandemic. We have provided medical equipment like oxygen concentrators for its hospitals and protective equipment for its frontline workers; we have supported Ukraine’s small businesses and cultural industry with access to finance; and we have mobilised protection for vulnerable groups like conflict-affected people and women whose livelihoods and personal safety were at risk during the lockdown. The WHO has been a key partner for the EU and now that vaccination is becoming accessible, we are happy to continue working hand in hand to ensure Ukraine is ready to receive and deploy vaccines,” Head of the European Union Delegation to Ukraine Matti Maasikas said.
“Thanks to support of the European Union and the World Health Organization we will be able to effectively and coherently carry out all stages of vaccination provided by the National Deployment and Vaccination Plan against COVID-19. It is possible to stop the pandemic in Ukraine and in the world only by joint efforts, so we are grateful to our partners for their help and unity for the common goal of overcoming COVID-19,” Chief Sanitary Doctor, Deputy Health Minister of Ukraine Viktor Liashko said.
Dr. Jarno Habicht, the WHO Representative and Head of the WHO Country Office in Ukraine, said: “Vaccines offer hope and protection to those fighting on the frontlines of this pandemic and to those at highest risk. Thanks to this generous support and collaboration with European Union, WHO can scale up its efforts to support Ukraine to ensure that vaccines can reach those who need them most, as soon and as efficiently as possible. Our joint and multi-year actions will support COVID vaccine deployment and vaccination in Ukraine, as well strengthens overall immunisation programme in medium term.”
The funds are reported to be used initially to support the first phase of preparation and deployment, with a focus on immediate needs for strategic program areas such as planning, equipment/supplies, health worker training and awareness campaigns.
The project builds on the European Union’s and WHO’s ongoing support to countries’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the joint EUR 35 million EU Solidarity for Health Initiative, aimed to support the partner countries in their fight against the virus and address better the needs of the most vulnerable people.
“Since early 2020, the EU has mobilised over 190 million euro to help Ukraine face the challenges of COVID-19, supporting its health system, frontline workers, small and medium-sized businesses and vulnerable groups. It has activated its Civil Protection Mechanism to transfer medical equipment and supplies from the Czech Republic, Estonia, Poland and Slovakia to Ukraine and is providing emergency Macro-Financial Assistance worth EUR 1.2 billion to Ukraine to help limit the economic fallout of the pandemic,” the EU Delegation to Ukraine said.
Finally, the European Union is the largest donor to COVAX, an initiative which is set to provide the first batches of vaccines to Ukrainian frontline workers shortly. These efforts are part of #TeamEurope, the EU’s global approach to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

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EUROPEAN BUSINESS ASSOCIATION CALLS FOR QUALITY LAW ENFORCEMENT REFORM IN 2021

Business awaits law enforcement reforms, but the latest version of the law on the Economic Security Bureau and the bill on the reform of the Security Service (SBU) adopted at first reading raise doubts about the quality of such reforms, the European Business Association (EBA) said in a release.
“It is worth noting that currently, the problem of cooperation with law enforcement agencies concerns not only SMEs and regional entrepreneurs but also large international companies and strategic investors,” the release says.
“The reform issue is especially relevant now in the context of the establishment of the Bureau of Economic Security. Although the community has not yet seen the final version of the document, the business was wary of the penultimate version of the draft law. Thus, there are fears that instead of a radically new analytical body that would help protect the interests of business, a new structure may be created with a new name, but with the same methods of work and even the same people,” the EBA says.
“At the same time, the SBU reform was launched, so to speak, by the adoption of the draft law No. 3196-d at first reading. Thus, the draft law was supposed to eliminate anti-corruption and economic units in the SBU, partially demilitarize the service, etc. However, there are fears that the liquidated SBU departments will be reincarnated as other functional units that will provide counterintelligence support in the economic context. In other words, it is likely to put continued pressure on the business. And, in general, this document invokes a lot of questions concerning the renewed functions and powers of the service,” it noted.
“Therefore, the European Business Association appeals to Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine, Denys Shmyhal, Prime Minister of Ukraine, and Arsen Avakov, Minister of Internal Affairs, to pay due attention to reforming the law enforcement system in 2021. It is unacceptable and unreasonable to persecute the business. Otherwise, the issue of attracting investment, business development, and economic development, in general, may become a big question. We hope that the time for fundamental reforms has come and we will finally move from talks to the action!” the document says.

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