The decline in Ukraine’s GDP in January-April 2021 slowed down to 0.2%, according to an estimate by the Ministry of Economy.
“The Ministry of Economy estimates a slight decrease in GDP at 0.2% (a 2% drop in the first quarter of 2021, by 4.9% in the four months of 2020),” the ministry said in its review of economic activity in April this year, posted on its website.
The mobile operator lifecell in May launched 4G mobile communications in 343 settlements in all regions of Ukraine.
According to the operator’s statement, in general, as of the end of May, 10,911 settlements were connected to the lifecell 4G network, where a total of more than 27.9 million people live.
In May, the lifecell network was expanded in 343 settlements, where 196,000 Ukrainians live. Of these, 339 with a population of up to 5,000 people, and four with up to 25,000 people.
“With the deployment of the network, the consumption of data traffic has also grown. Thus, lifecell subscribers who use 4G consumed 81% more mobile Internet traffic in May, compared to the same period in 2020,” the operator said.
As of the end of May 2021, the leaders in the use of lifecell mobile Internet were:
– up to 5,000 people – Baturyn (Chernihiv region);
– up to 25,000 people – Zdolbuniv (Rivne region);
– up to 50,000 people – Fastiv (Kyiv region);
– up to 100,000 people – Uman (Cherkasy region);
– up to 500,000 people – Vinnytsia;
– up to 1 million people – Zaporizhia.
In the category of cities with a population of more than 1 million people, the first place is occupied by Kyiv, followed by Odesa and Kharkiv.
China is interested in increasing the supply of Ukrainian soybeans, peas, barley, wheat, as well as poultry and other products, the Ministry of Economy said, following a meeting between First Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Economy Oleksiy Liubchenko and Chinese Ambassador to Ukraine Fan Xianrong on June 10. “Today we’ve heard from our Chinese partners confirmation of interest in deepening economic cooperation, increasing exports of Ukrainian agricultural products, building infrastructure and implementing joint investment projects in transport, construction, energy, IT and other areas,” the press service of the ministry said citing Oleksiy Liubchenko.
According to the report, the meeting was also attended by Deputy Minister Volodymyr Hryniuk and Deputy Minister-Trade Representative of Ukraine Taras Kachka, as well as representatives of the leadership of the Chinese Embassy in Ukraine.
The parties also noted the importance of signing an intergovernmental agreement on deepening cooperation in the construction of infrastructure in the near future, the ministry said.
“This step will allow starting preparatory work for the launch of investment projects, including the construction of the M-22 Poltava-Oleksandriya road and the first part of the Kyiv circular road – sections M05-M06, which will cost about $ 1.1 billion,” the ministry said.
It is also important to continue work on the development of freight traffic in the direction of China-Western Europe through the territory of Ukraine, the report notes.
In addition, the Chinese side stressed the importance of the implementation of the intergovernmental initiative of Ukraine and China “One Belt-One Road.” The matter concerns preparing a roadmap for the implementation of a program of cooperation between the two countries within the framework of the joint construction of the “Silk Road Economic Belt” and “21st Century Maritime Silk Road,” the ministry added.
Rating agency Expert-Rating has affirmed the financial stability rating of the agricultural holding KSG Agro S.A. at the level of “uaA +” on the national scale, according to the agency’s website.
The agency notes that a borrower or a separate debt instrument with a “uaA +” rating is characterized by high creditworthiness compared to other Ukrainian borrowers or debt instruments.
According to the agency’s data, as of March 31, 2021, the share of loans in the liabilities of KSG Agro was 47.70%, of which short-term loans – 5.12%, and long-term loans – 42.58%.
As of the beginning of 2021, the equity capital of KSG Agro S.A. covered loans from banks by 44.16% and by 19.64% – the total volume of loans from banks and the parent company OLBIS Investments Ltd., owned by owner of the agricultural holding Serhiy Kasianov.
“In 2020-2021, the management of the holding took measures to improve its credit history by fully repaying and restructuring overdue debts on bank loans, and also reduced the impact of foreign exchange risk on the KSG Agro’s creditworthiness by changing the lending currency from the U.S. dollar to the functional currency, that is the main currency that a company conducts its business,” the agency said in a report.
Expert-Rating also notes that in 2020 the ratio of the company’s EBITDA to its total liabilities increased by 8.04 percentage points (p.p.) compared to 2019, to 11.35%, EBITDA to loans received – by 16.70 p.p., to 23.94%, and EBITDA to bank loans – by 34.81 p.p., to 54.28%.
“The current level of EBITDA of KSG Agro S.A. covers a significant share of interest bearing liabilities in 2020, it exceeds the cost of paying interest on loans by over 4 times and the total financial expenses of the holding by over 3 times,” the report said.
The agency clarifies that as of December 31, 2020, the agricultural holding did not issue debt securities, except for short-term bills, the amount of debt on which was estimated at $2.35 million.
According to Expert-Rating, due to the listing of shares of KSG Agro S.A. on the Warsaw Stock Exchange (WSE), the agricultural company can issue new shares, thereby increasing the liquidity and value of its shares.
According to the agency, as of March 31, 2021, some 64.62% of the company’s shares belonged to Kasianov, who manages it through OLBIS Investments Ltd., 35.17% of the shares were in free circulation on the WSE, and 0.21% accounted for treasury shares.
On June, 12 and 13, Ancient Kyiv in the Principality of Kyivan Rus («Kyivan Rus Park») invites you to a weekend tour «The Ancient World in Ancient Kyiv». The guests will be awaited by horse performances, theatrical stagings based on ancient myths, horseback riding, tasty dishes from fire, extreme attractions, museums, exhibitions … And all these in a real live medieval city!
The event is held in accordance with the requirements of the quarantine regime.
Ancient Kyiv opens at 10:00. The program starts at 14:00.
* The event program is subject to change.
The ticket price: a full adult ticket – 200 UAH, for pensioners and students – 150 UAH, for schoolchildren – 80 UAH, for preschool children – for free.
Ancient Kyiv in the «Kyivan Rus Park» is located in Kyiv region, Obukhiv district, the vill. Kopachiv.
Details on the website www.parkkyivrus.com
The Interfax subscribers can save money with the “openbusiness-20” promo code for a 20%-discount for a full price adult ticket 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».
Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Ihor Zhovkva welcomed the opening of the Irish Embassy in Ukraine in a conversation with the Deputy Secretary of State for International and European Affairs of the Office of the Prime Minister of Ireland Helen Blake.
“The opening of the Irish diplomatic mission is a long-awaited event, which should contribute to the disclosure of significant potential of bilateral cooperation between Ukraine and Ireland,” he said, according to the presidential press service.
The interlocutors exchanged information on measures to overcome the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic, in particular regarding vaccination. Blake said that Ireland supports the introduction of a mechanism in the EU that will allow partner countries to gain access to the vaccine.
The parties also discussed the situation in the east of Ukraine and in the Crimea occupied by Russia. Zhovkva briefed on the security challenges facing Ukraine as a result of the recent build-up of Russian military forces along the Russian-Ukrainian state border and in the occupied territories. He thanked the Irish side for supporting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, in particular within the UN Security Council, where Ireland is a non-permanent member.
In addition, Zhovkva acquainted Blake with the initiative of the President of Ukraine “Crimean Platform” and confirmed the invitation to the Prime Minister of Ireland Micheal Martin to take part in her inaugural summit in August.
During the conversation, special attention was paid to the implementation of Ukraine’s European aspirations. Zhovkva noted that Ukraine’s accession to the European Union is a strategic goal to achieve which maximum efforts are directed. The Irish side was invited to join the circle of EU states that have already recognized the European perspective of Ukraine.
Blake, for her part, confirmed that Ireland supports the further enlargement of the European Union, welcomes Ukraine’s European aspirations and is ready to continue to help in their implementation, including in the implementation of the necessary reforms.
The Irish Embassy was opened in Kyiv in June, before that there was a consulate and the Irish Ambassador in Prague worked in Ukraine part-time.
