Ukraine may lift the ban on the import of unprocessed timber exclusively for the EU countries after it provides transparency in the domestic market, as it is suggested by bill No. 4197-1, Deputy Minister of Economy and Trade Representative of Ukraine Taras Kachka has said. “We informed them with a note that we would pass the law in six months. The bill we are putting on is No. 4197-1. This is the bill on the timber market. The logic is very simple: first, we ensure transparency in the domestic market so that there are no grounds for manipulation. As part of this bill, we will also consider lifting the moratorium exclusively for the EU – we have no reason to lift it for the rest,” Kachka told Interfax-Ukraine on the sidelines of the Ukraine 30 forum.
He stressed that trade with the EU will be possible only with transparent mechanisms.
“Now in the EU there are two initiatives on forest control – corporate due diligence and a ban on the import of unprocessed raw materials is even possible. So they have the same process going on, we will actively synchronize,” Kachka said.
As reported, the Verkhovna Rada on April 9, 2015 adopted a law, which banned the export of unprocessed timber and sawn timber (round timber) for 10 years.
In 2018, the parliament limited domestic consumption of unprocessed timber to 25 billion cubic meters per year for the duration of the export of round timber outside the customs territory of the country.
In January 2020, Ukraine and the EU created an arbitration group to consider a dispute over Ukraine’s ban on the export of raw timber. At the end of 2020, it issued a decision recognizing its right to restrict timber exports under certain circumstances, while at the same time recognizing the need to adjust the 2015 moratorium in cooperation with the EU.
The pharmaceutical company Farmak (Kyiv) stands for mutual recognition of the results of good manufacturing practice (GMP) checks in production of medicines within the framework of the Ukraine-EU industrial dialogue. “A key prerequisite for realizing cooperation opportunities between the Ukrainian and European pharmaceutical sectors is to update the scope of the future ACAA agreement (Agreement on Conformity Assessment and Acceptance of Industrial Goods) with the EU. First of all, to include provisions on the mutual recognition of the results of audits of good manufacturing practice in the pharmaceutical sector (GMP),” Yevhenia Piddubna, the director for corporate communications at Farmak, told Interfax-Ukraine.
She also noted the high potential for the participation of the Ukrainian pharmaceutical industry in the diversification of European supply chains for critical medicines in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Farmak is one of the oldest pharmaceutical companies in Ukraine, specializing in the production of modern high-tech drugs. At the company’s production sites, a pharmaceutical quality system has been introduced and it is constantly being improved in accordance with the current regulatory requirements and in accordance with international standards: ISO, GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice). The company undergoes several international inspections and audits annually.
The company is included in the top 100 largest taxpayers in Ukraine. In 2020, Farmak paid taxes totaling more than UAH 712 million, including UAH 120 million to the Kyiv city budget.
Farmak is a member of the Manufacturers of Medications of Ukraine association.
Recent changes in the financial market of Ukraine are favorable for the emergence of investor interest in new instruments, and the investment company Concorde Capital plans to bring about a dozen companies to an initial public offering (IPO) in two years, the founder and CEO of Concorde Capital, Ihor Mazepa, has said.
“I perceive this as a personal challenge and my personal ambition and ambition of my colleagues at Concorde: … I give myself, roughly speaking, two years to bring a good ten companies to an IPO,” Mazepa said at the presentation of the UAH 50-100 million IPO of the Veres Rivne People’s Club in Kyiv.
The CEO of the investment company believes that in recent years there has been a good trend in the market, which was previously observed in the neighboring markets of Eastern Europe and Russia. “When deposit rates fall, the investor has a feeling of discomfort. What I have seen for the last six or nine months: there has been such a huge trend that a class, a huge group of investors has begun to form in the country. Our fellow citizens really brought money to the stock market,” Mazepa said.
According to him, now this money goes to American and European exchanges.
“I want to walk this path, create or return this culture of investment to our country,” the CEO of Concorde Capital said.
He also said the company is developing a phone application for investors that will allow them to buy/sell securities online. According to him, the development cost is up to $1 million, and it can be launched before the end of this year or early next year.
During the year of quarantine associated with the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic from the beginning of 2020 to the beginning of 2021, the Ukrainian audience of social networks expanded by 7 million people, GlobalLogic said, citing the results of a study conducted on the basis of open data.
“At the beginning of 2020, there were 19 million users [of social networks] in Ukraine. In 2021, the figure reached 26 million. At the same time, the penetration of social networks has increased by half: now 60% of the country’s population is registered in them, while in January 2020 it was only over 40%,” GlobalLogic said in a report on Wednesday.
According to GlobalLogic, since 2019, the number of Ukrainians on Instagram has increased by 22% and on Facebook by 7%. Now they are used by 14 million and 16 million Ukrainians, respectively.
“Over the past year, the new social network TikTok reached 16% of users from Ukraine. Its growth was 500%. YouTube remains the most popular social network with coverage of 96% of users in Ukraine. On average, they spend about 40 minutes a day in the service,” GlobalLogic.
The number of Ukrainian Internet users, according to the company, also increased by 2 million, which is 33% more than in 2019, and at the beginning of 2021 was almost 30 million, that is, about 67% of the country’s population.
According to GlobalLogic, there are more Internet users not only in Ukraine, but also in the world: since 2019, their number has increased by 280 million.
In addition, due to the pandemic over the past year, people around the world have seen 57% more videos and movies, 37% more music and 15% more podcasts.
GlobalLogic used data from open sources such as Data Report, State Statistics Service, Kantar and PlusOne, as well as internal statistics, for its analysis.
On March, 20 and 21 Ancient Kyiv in the Principality of Kyivan Rus («Kyivan Rus Park») invites to the exhibition-show «The World of horses». The guests will be awaited by horse shows, master-classes on horse care and horse training, tasty dishes prepared on a bonfire, Slavic games, round dances… And all of these in a real, live, medieval city!
On March, 20 and 21 the inhabitants of the Principality will hospitably meet dear guests near the entrance gate and will not allow to get bored even for a minute.
On the big tilting-yard of Ancient Kyiv the guests will be presented the unique horses of rare historical breeds. Together in a tandem with experienced riders-stuntmen these wonderful animals will demonstrate their skills and will amaze the viewers with virtuoso rides.
After the performances the guests will be told about the origin of the breeds and their features. Experienced instructors will hold open master-classes on horse care and horse training.
Every visitor will get a chance to approach the horses, palm them, make a bright photo session and even have a ride on a horseback or in a carriage.
The inhabitants of Ancient Kyiv will invite both adults and children to take part in traditional Slavic amusements, merry and cognitive contests, fiery round dances and dance flash mobs.
The program may be changed.
A visit to Ancient Kyiv has to be in accordance with the requirements of the quarantine regime.
Ancient Kyiv is in a 45 minutes` travel from modern Kyiv – Kyiv region, Obukhiv district, vill. Kopachiv.
You can get by your own car or public transport. The schedule of route taxis can be found on the «Obukhivtrans» website or on the «Kyivan Rus Park» website in the «Contacts» section
The best way with your own car is through the town of Obukhiv, which is indicated on the Principality’s website in the «Contacts» section. GPS-navigators often indicate a worse road not through Obukhiv, it is not recommended to follow it due to weather conditions.
The ticket price: a full adult ticket – 200 UAH, for pensioners and students – 150 UAH, for schoolchildren – 80 UAH, for preschool children – for free.
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».
