Ukrainian winegrowers and winemakers have asked the president and the government to reduce tax burden to minimize the economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and the national quarantine. According to Bayadera Group’s press service, the initiative was supported by more than 50 vineyards and major wineries.
“In an open letter, they proposed, in particular, to introduce a special taxation regime for agricultural producers engaged in the cultivation of perennial plantations, viticulture and winemaking. Due to the worsening economic situation in the industry and adverse climatic conditions in the Black Sea region, this year they urge the abolition of certain taxes and reduce financial burden,” Bayadera Group said.
In addition, due to the negative consequences of the pandemic, national producers urge the government to support them by providing more loyal terms of representation in retail chains, increasing the share of Ukrainian wine and introducing duties as a protective mechanism.
“A significant increase in the import of alcoholic drinks in Ukraine has been observed over the past three years. For example, in 2019 the share of imported wine in retail chains was 58%, sparkling wine some 51%, vermouth and aperitifs some 69%,” Bayadera Group noted.
The winegrowers and winemakers hope that in connection with the difficult situation resulting from the pandemic and the introduction of quarantine, the authorities will take the proposed measures in the near future.
The Cabinet of Ministers has extended until July 1 the ban on export of anti-epidemiological products. The government made the corresponding decision at a meeting on May 27.
“It is proposed to change the validity of the licensing regime for export of anti-epidemiological products until July 1, 2020. In fact, we extend the ban on export of such goods by one month,” Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Agriculture Ihor Petrashko said.
The government also allowed export of waterproof laboratory suits and disposable isolation medical gowns of types 1-5 of protection.
Top 20 countries of Ukraine’s foreign trade partners of Jan-Feb 2020 (thousand Usd)
The U.S. Embassy in Ukraine has said that it is important that the National Health Service of Ukraine (NHSU) remains independent body.
“An independent and professional National Health Service of Ukraine is critical to ensuring Ukrainians have access to modern, efficient health care. We stand ready to continue partnering with the Government of Ukraine to strengthen the independence of institutions like the NHSU, as we also collaborate to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects,” the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine wrote on its Facebook page on Wednesday.
In turn, the British Embassy welcomed the decision of the Health Ministry to extend the terms of the competition to select the head of the NHSU and announced support for the second stage of healthcare reform.
“Welcome @MoH_Ukraine [Health Ministry of Ukraine] extending deadline for temp Head of NHSU. Independent institutions, universal cover and patient-centred care all vital to #COVID19 response. UK strongly supports 2nd phase of health reform and will work with @Kabmin_UA_e [the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine] so long as reform commitment remains,” the British Embassy said on Twitter.
As reported, on May 22, the Cabinet of Ministers announced a new competition for the post of head of the NHSU. Candidates can submit documents before May 27.
Insurance companies of Ukraine in January-March 2020 paid insurance premiums in the amount of UAH 2.78 billion under insurance risk reinsurance contracts, which is 37.4% or UAH 1.66 billion less than in the same period in 2019, member of the National Commission for the State Regulation of Financial Services Markets Oleksandr Zaletov has told Interfax-Ukraine.
According to him, despite the fact that in the first quarter of 2020, net insurance premiums compared to the same period in 2019 increased by a mere 1.8%, to UAH 9.85 billion, the situation in the reinsurance market has changed.
Firstly, cooperation with international reinsurers has intensified. So non-resident reinsurers were paid UAH 884 million, which is 12.6% or UAH 98.9 million more than in the same period in 2019 (UAH 785.3 million for the first quarter of 2019). In the first quarter of 2020, as before, predominantly reinsurance is carried out in the member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The most actively cooperating with Ukraine in the field of reinsurance were insurers and specialized reinsurers from Germany, which accounted for 19.7% of the premiums in this segment, as well as Austria (19.4%), the UK (14.6%), and Poland (12.4%), France (7.2%), Switzerland (5.6%), Italy (3.9%), the Czech Republic (3.8%), the United States (3%) and Belgium (2.4%), and the rest accounted for less than 2%.
In January-March 2020, non-resident reinsurers made insurance payments in the amount of UAH 473 million, which is 62.2% or UAH 181 million more than in the same period in 2019 (UAH 292 million for the first quarter of 2019). A significant share was held by reinsurers from the Czech Republic (31.2%), Germany (24.3%), Poland (17.6%), Great Britain (9%), Austria (7.6%), France (2.4%), and Italy (2.4%), the rest less than 2%.
Secondly, there were significant reductions in operations in the domestic reinsurance market. So, in the first quarter of 2020, resident reinsurers were paid insurance premiums in the amount of UAH 1.89 billion, which is 48.3% less compared to the same period in 2019 (UAH 3.65 billion for the first quarter of 2019).
Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) has operated 45 special cargo flights after closing regular flights by the end of May. The company’s press service said on Wednesday that some 870 tonnes of medical supplies were carried by these flights.
“Flights were operated on medium and long haul aircraft. In a loose layout, subject to partial dismantling of passenger seats, about 110 cubic meters of cargo can be carried together on board of Boeing 737 aircraft, and about 190 cubic meters of cargo can be carried on board of Boeing 767,” the airline said.
