The Black Sea Trade and Development Bank (BSTDB) and the vertically integrated group of mining and metallurgical companies Metinvest have announced the signing of a loan agreement in the amount of EUR 62 million to finance and refinance the purchase of machinery and equipment for its iron ore enterprises (GOK).
“The seven-year credit facility was granted with a two-year grace period for principal repayment,” the group said in a press release.
“This news marks the culmination of significant efforts since July and is an important milestone in our history, as the facility is our first from an international financial institution. At Metinvest, we share the values of BSTDB and intend to use this financing to make our business more efficient, as well as to increase our overall contribution towards the Black Sea region’s economic wellbeing,” Yuriy Ryzhenkov, the Chief Executive Officer of Metinvest, said.
“Working with an international financial institution has been a highly positive new experience for Metinvest. I would like to express my gratitude to the BSTDB team for their continued support throughout the process and for helping to make this transaction happen. We are proud of this new partnership and are eager to develop it further,” Alexander Lyubarev, the Director of Corporate Finance and Treasury at Metinvest, reported.
“We are happy to assist Metinvest, a leading manufacturer and employer in Ukraine, in implementing its development and capital expenditure program focused on improved production technology, efficiency and environmental impact. Given the importance of this sector to the country and its export potential, this operation will have an important developmental impact in Ukraine. As a regional development bank, we welcome that the group plans to buy new equipment from and export its products to other BSTDB member countries, thus strengthening the regional cooperation,” BSTDB President Dmitry Pankin noted.
In 2021, Canada and Ukraine will modernize the free trade agreement (FTA), Ambassador of Canada to Ukraine Larisa Galadza said.
“This year will be important because its [the agreement] modernization, including services, is envisaged. Therefore, I look forward to working in this direction,” Galadza said at an online discussion at Kyiv Security Forum on Friday.
She said that Ukraine needs to continue to work towards reforming the justice system.
“This is extremely important for Ukrainian citizens and also for bilateral relations, if we want to strengthen them, especially trade relations,” Galadza said.
The ambassador also expressed her hope that in 2021 there will be an opportunity to simplify the process of travel between Canada and Ukraine. “Connections between people are exactly what shapes our bilateral relations. I mean those people who travel from Ukraine to Canada and vice versa. I think that over the next year we will have opportunities to simplify this process, clarify, something like a normal life after a year that has passed,” she said.
In addition, the diplomat said that on January 1, an agreement between Canada and Ukraine on the joint production of audiovisual products comes into force.
Galadza said that another area of bilateral cooperation between Ukraine and Canada is the continuation of work towards ensuring fairness, accountability, transparency regarding the shooting down of UIA flight by Iran.
“We must ensure justice, transparency for families, and we will continue to work together to make the skies safer for all people who fly and, unfortunately, who have to travel to conflict areas,” she said.
The ambassador said that Canada will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine.
“Ukraine can certainly rely on the fact that Canada will invariably and uncompromisingly support territorial integrity, not only through tactical exercises that we organize for the Armed Forces of Ukraine as they prepare to be deployed in Donbas, but also in the format of multilateral forums and initiatives, like the Crimean platform,” the diplomat said.
She said Canada will also continue to accompany Ukraine on the path of reforms.
On December, 19 and 20 Kyiv in the Principality of Kyivan Rus («Kyivan Rus Park») invites to the opening of the «Winter fairy tale» New Year`s program for children and adults, which will last till the Epiphany holiday on January, 19.
On December, 19 and 20, on the Saint Nicholas Day, the inhabitants of the Principality are inviting to meet this kind and loved by all Saint.
The show-program with the participation of the horse-trick theatre and costumed characters, horse riding, medieval drinks and hot dishes prepared on fire, winter amusements, the festive location, master-classes, the New Year gifts fair, flash-mobs, games and the drawing of gifts will be waiting for the guests.
Ancient Kyiv opens at 10:00. The program starts at 13:00.
The ticket price: a full adult ticket – 250.00 UAH, for pensioners and students – 150.00 UAH; for schoolchildren – 80.00 UAH, for preschool children – for free.
Ancient Kyiv in the «Kyivan Rus Park» is located in the vill. Kopachiv, Obukhiv district, Kyiv region.
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 the adult ticket (at full price) 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».
Alfa-Bank (Kyiv) on December 18 opened the AHUB co-working space with a conference room for educational and business events, meeting rooms and multimedia spaces in the center of Lviv, according to the website of the financial institution.
“AHUB is a space for work and meetings of Alfa-Bank clients. This is a place that can replace an office or a meeting room for someone … We immediately announce the opening of AHUB in Kyiv next year,” the executive director of Alfa-Bank, Olha Fylypenko, said.
According to the press service of the bank, AHUB covers an area of 326 square meters and is located in a building rented by Alfa-Bank on Rynok Square, which also houses a bank branch.
It is indicated that in addition to access to the business space, AHUB offers an educational program, in particular thematic offline and online events with the possibility of remote access to them.
In addition, the AHUB has a relax room, a stress room and a bar, the report says.
National bank of Ukraine’s official rates as of 18/12/20
Source: National Bank of Ukraine
Official rates of banking metals from national bank as of December 18
One troy ounce=31.10 grams
