Ukrainian Energy and Coal Industry Minister Ihor Nasalyk and representatives of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) have discussed holding a tender for the positions of independent members of the supervisory board of Ukrenergo, the ministry’s press service has reported.
“The issues of corporatization of state-owned companies and the formation of the independent supervisory board of Ukrenergo are among the most topical issues in reforming the energy sector,” the minister said.
The sides also discussed the development of renewable energy in the country. EBRD representatives suggested further discussing the possibilities of legislative regulation and financing renewable energy projects in Ukraine taking into account international experience.
Nasalyk noted the expediency of considering the issue of introduction of energy storage devices, which will make it possible to use additional renewable energy power.
“The introduction of energy storage will make it possible to gradually reduce the use of TPPs and fulfill Ukraine’s obligations to reduce emissions,” the minister said.
As reported, Ukraine’s Ministry of Energy and Coal Industry announced a tender to select four independent members for the supervisory board of Ukrenergo. Applications and documents for participation in the tender are accepted until March 2, 2018.
Roshen this year will invest UAH 90 million in creating public space in the territory of the Kyiv confectionery factory Roshen located in the center of the capital, the company’s press service has told Interfax-Ukraine.
“Roshen Plaza is the conditional name of the reconstruction and improvement of the territory of the Kyiv confectionery factory Roshen. The factory does not cease existing, but its capacities are reduced,” the corporation said.
In particular, Roshen noted that the Kyivsky Tort cake will continue to be produced at the Kyiv confectionery factory.
“Part of production premises will remain in the territory of the factory, while the company’s office, as well as public facilities will be located in one of the buildings,” the corporation said.
According to the report, in late spring a demonstration center with a chocolate production line will be opened in the territory of the factory, where one can see the details and peculiarities of making sweets, and by the end of the year the first stage of the area improvement will be completed and a free seasonal ice rink with an area of more than 2,000 square meters will open.
The second stage of the project will be completed in 2019. It provides for the establishment of a dynamic fountain and the creation of a technical complex for video projection and a light musical show, Roshen said.
The corporation noted the concept of public space is in the process of finalization, and reconstruction work is expected to be completed by 2020.
Average retail prices for petrol and diesel fuel in Ukraine in the period from December 29, 2017 to January 29, 2018 grew by 7.1-8.2% (by UAH 2.1 per liter), for LPG by 3.1% (by UAH 0.4/liter), according to data from A-95 Consulting Group (Kyiv).
Last week, from January 22 to January 29, 2018 average retail prices rose by 2.1-2.7%, while those for LPG by 0.9%.
Earlier A-95 Consulting Group Director Serhiy Kuyun noted that the increase in prices for petroleum products in Ukraine is associated with the increase in oil prices in the world and the depreciation of the hryvnia exchange rate, since fuel excises are euro-denominated.
As reported, average retail prices for petrol in Ukraine for 2017 increased by 19.2-20.1% (by UAH 4.61-4.76/liter), for diesel fuel by 22.6% (by UAH 4.84/liter). At the same time, average prices for liquefied petroleum gas, despite a sharp increase in August due to a deficit, showed an increase of a mere 2.9% for the year (by UAH 0.36/liter).
AIS Autotrade, part of the AIS Group, which is involved in sales of used cars, starts selling used commercial electric vehicles, the company has said in a press release.
At the first stage the company offers electric Nissan e-NV 200 vehicle with passenger seats or for cargo transportation. Among the characteristics of the model is smoothness and quietness during the movement, a high level of economy (from UAH 8 per 100 km), ecological compatibility and a relatively high carrying capacity – up to 770 kg.
“This car is suitable for business as well as for large families, as the cost of servicing the Nissan e-NV200 is 40% lower than that of similar cars with a diesel engine,” the company said.
According to the press release, AIS Autotrade buys electric vehicles only from the largest official suppliers of the EU and the United States. They have an official servicing history available for checking on the Internet. According to the company, vehicles were not in major road accidents and had no damage due to natural disasters, and they also underwent full customs clearance and pre-sale preparation.
AIS Autotrade in its center in Kyiv offers also electric cars: Nissan Leaf and BMW i3.
AgroHub in Davos is solving several tasks at once, hub Director Yulia Poroshenko said in the Ukrainian House on Wednesday.
“We of course are seeking investors, whom we will tell that Ukraine has great potential. This is one of the key tasks,” she said.
In addition, AgroHub is seeking international solutions and invites all interested parties to participate in the project.
“We can become for them the point of entry. We know all the local companies and understand what they need. On the other hand, our team has international experience,” Poroshenko added.
The platform plans to become part of an international network.
“At the forum much was said about how important it is to start a local project today, that it is necessary to be open, to look for good world practices. Our task is to talk about our project and make connections with other platforms for exchanging information, experience in order to achieve synergy,” AgroHub’s founder said.
AgroHub is a project to develop agricultural innovations. Its aim is to raise the effectiveness of the agricultural sector by introducing innovations and technology, giving the chance for talented people to realize their potential. The hub is becoming a catalyst for forging ties between agricultural companies and developers of technological solutions, experts, scientific institutes, media and international groups.
In the fall of 2017, AgroHub together with Myronivskiy Khlibproduct (MHP) and the Radar Tech technological cluster launched MHP Accelerator to speed up innovations in agriculture.
Indian pharmaceutical companies waiting for the launch of the updated relaxed medicine registration procedure in Ukraine for medicines registered in countries with tough regulatory policies to bring new medicines to the Ukrainian market, President of Indian Pharmaceutical Manufacturers’ Association in Ukraine (IPMA) Dr. Ramanan Menon has told Interfax-Ukraine.
“The decision to relax the registration of these medicines is positive for Indian manufacturers, but primarily for Ukrainian patients. When this system is fully operational, I think many Indian pharmaceutical companies will bring new modern medicines to the Ukrainian market,” he told Interfax-Ukraine.
Dr. Menon said that the procedure allows bringing not just new medicines to the Ukrainian pharmaceutical market, but those which effectiveness, safety and quality are confirmed by the most stringent regulatory authorities in the world.
“In India, there are a lot of plants owned by multinational companies that have all the certificates recognized in the world. I think that the relaxed registration will allow us to bring the most effective medicines to the Ukrainian market,” he said.
Dr. Menon said that the high quality and efficiency of the products of Indian pharmaceutical plants with their relatively low cost has long been appreciated by international organizations that are purchasing medicines on a global scale, including the UN family organizations – UNDP and UNICEF. These international organizations purchase medicines directly from manufacturers.
The head of IPMA recalled that Indian pharmaceutical companies are the winners of a significant part of tenders that are held by international organizations to buy medicines using funds from the national budget of Ukraine.
“Now the number of distributors in budget procurement has decreased. International organizations procure the medicines and Indian medicines have a certain share,” he said, adding that Indian pharmacies often cooperate with the world’s leading manufacturers of innovative drugs.
In particular, more than 80% of antiretroviral drugs used globally to fight AIDS are produced by Indian pharmaceutical companies. In particular, the Medicines Patent Pool (a patent organization funded by UN) signed six sub-licenses with Indian pharmaceutical companies Aurobindo, Cipla, Desano, Emcure, Hetero Labs and Laurus Labs, which allowed them to create a new drug for AIDS – generic Tenofovir Alafenamide (TAF) for 112 developing countries.
