KYIV. Dec 13 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in December reviewed downwards its forecast for exports of wheat from Ukraine in the 2017/18 agricultural year (July-June) by 500,000 tonnes compared with the November forecast, to 17 million tonnes.
According to a report of the USDA, the forecast for exports of corn was left at 20.5 million tonnes.
USDA projects that grain harvest in Ukraine in 2017 would be 61.49 million tonnes, including 26.5 million tonnes of wheat and 25 million tonnes of corn.
Exports of grain in the 2017/18 agri-year would be 42.41 million tonnes.
KYIV. Dec 13 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Investment in the resumption of operation of Zbarazh Vodka Distillery LLC (the Kalganoff trademark, Ternopil region) reached UAH 350 million, according to a posting on the website of Ternopil Regional Administration.
The authority said that 48 people are working at the distillery. Average salary is UAH 6,400.
The press service of the enterprise said that the distillery was idle since 2013.
In May 2013, Ternopil region’s business court opened a bankruptcy case against Kalganoff Liquor and Vodka Distillery LLC.
The owner of Zbarazh Vodka Distillery LLC is Yaroslav Kryvulsky.
KYIV. Dec 13 (Interfax-Ukraine) – AIS group of companies, a large Ukrainian automobile holding, has signed an agreement on cooperation with Minsk Tractor Works (Belarus), within the framework of which it obtained the right to sell Belarus tractors, conduct their warranty and service at all trade and service enterprises of AIS in Ukraine.
According to a press release from AIS, the plant’s trade and service network thus receives 18 new sales points and service stations for Belarus tractors in 16 cities of Ukraine.
The key emphasis in promotion and sales will be made on the following models: Belarus 82, 892, 1025, which prevail in the Ukrainian market and are used in agriculture, residential and industrial construction, and urban facilities.
According to AIS, the Belarus brand leads in the market of new tractors of Ukraine with a share of about 20%.
Minsk Tractor Works is one of the leading producers of agricultural machinery in the world. It works in the markets of more than 60 states and has assembly production in various countries.
KYIV. Dec 13 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Ukraine’s Economic Development and Trade Ministry initiates the creation of ‘digital’ governmental committee for development of the digital economy and society.
The proposal is outlined in a draft government resolution on the concept for developing the digital economy and society of Ukraine for 2018-2020.
Among other initiatives is the upgrade of the register of professions and designing a program for the introduction of digital professions into educational programs jointly with the Education Ministry and Social Policy Ministry.
The ministry proposed drawing up a plan for development of broadband Internet access for its approval by the government jointly with the State Special Communication and Information Protection Service, the State Agency for E-Governance and the national regulator of the market in the first quarter 2018.
To create the equal opportunities for access to telecommunications infrastructure between urban and rural areas, the ministry considers it necessary to create special funds to overcome digital disparity using public private partnership.
In the second quarter of 2018, the ministry, together with the State Agency for E-Governance, also proposed the development of an action plan to stimulate and support the introduction of advanced data processing technologies (including blockchain) in the public sector and basic industries.
