The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine with resolution No. 133 dated March 6, 2019 approved the consolidated financial plan of JSC Ukrzaliznytsia, taking into account the indexation of cargo transportation tariffs by 14.2% from April 1, 2019, the automated indexation of regulated tariffs for transportation of cargo and related services from May 1 by 2.5%, from August by 5% and from November 1 by 7.5%.
According to an explanatory note to the financial plan posted on the website of Ukrzaliznytsia, it also provides for quarterly indexation of prices for unregulated goods (labor and services) by the industrial price index, which will enable the company to hedge currency risks in its loan portfolio. Also, the unification of tariff classes is taken into account in the calculation of income from freight traffic in 2019.
A total of 331 million tonnes of cargo is planned to be transported in 2019, which is 4.8% less than planned for 2018. As a result, revenues from the transportation of goods are projected at UAH 83.991 billion, which is UAH 12 billion (or 16.7%) more than in the 2018 plan.
In 2019, Ukrzaliznytsia plans to transport 201 million passengers, which corresponds to the planned figures for 2018. Revenues from passenger transportation are planned at UAH 10.14 billion, which is UAH 1.64 billion (or 19.3%) more than the plan for 2018.
An increase in tariffs for these services from April 1, by an average of 13-21%, depending on the category of train and the type of car, will contributed to the growth of income from passenger transportation will ensure.
Expenses on the implementation of transportation services, which make up 82.5% of the expenditure part of the financial plan, are planned in the amount of UAH 84.68 billion, which is UAH 9.49 billion (or 12.6%) more than the plan for 2018. Their increase is expected thanks to the growth in traffic volumes, higher prices for material resources, and an increase in labor costs.
In addition, the financial plan takes into account the increase in land tax expenses in connection with the abolition of 0.25% privilege for the use of land parcels.
Also, the draft financial plan for 2019 envisages borrowings in the amount of UAH 49.4 billion, and the payment of loans in the amount of UAH 44.4 billion. As of January 1, 2019, the balance of financial obligations is expected to be UAH 37.3 billion (with the exchange rate of UAH 27.70/$1), at the end of the year the balance is planned to be UAH 43.9 billion (with the exchange rate of UAH 29.40/$1).
“The increase in the loan portfolio of JSC Ukrzaliznytsia at the end of 2019 is influenced by the exchange rate difference between the U.S. dollar and hryvnia at the beginning and the end of 2019: a rise by UAH 1.70,” Ukrzaliznytsia said in the document.
In addition, income from writing off property of Ukrzaliznytsia is planned in the amount of UAH 2.62 billion.
The company’s net profit in 2019 is projected at UAH 4.52 billion, which is UAH 3.81 billion (six times) more than the plan for 2018.
“The growth of the company’s profitability is thanks, first of all, to the introduction of the procedure for writing off property, the indexation of tariffs for transportation and cost optimization,” the company said in the explanatory note to the document.
In addition, according to the financial plan, Ukrzaliznytsia in 2019 intends to increase earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) by 25.4%, to UAH 25.048 billion, EBITDA margin by 1.8 percentage points compared with the plan for 2018.
The draft plan for 2019 provides for capital investments in the amount of UAH 18.02 billion. In particular, it is planned to purchase and manufacture the rolling stock for a total amount of UAH 5.08 billion – 2,153 railcar cars (including 2,150 gondola cars at the expense of the EBRD), and also to purchase 15 main-line diesel freight locomotives from General Electric for UAH 1.57 billion in financial leasing.
Ukraine as of March 21, 2019 sowed early spring grain and leguminous crops on 723,500 ha out of 2.3 million ha planned.
According to a posting on the website of the Agricultural Policy and Food Ministry, early crops are being sowed in 19 regions of Ukraine.
The ministry said that spring barley is sowed on 517,000 ha (33% of the target), wheat – on 44,000 ha (25%), peas – on 140,000 ha (40%) and millet – on 23,000 ha (12%).
Input of fertilizers for winter crops continues: it is completed on 6.6 million ha (88% of the target).
As reported, referring to the ministry, the gross grain harvest in Ukraine in 2018 amounted to about 70.1 million tonnes compared to 62 million tonnes in 2017.
Citizens of Ukraine can travel in Thailand for tourist purposes without visas from April 14, 2019.
“For a trip, you must have a passport (biometric or non-biometric). The period of a visa-free stay is up to 30 days,” the department of the consular service of the Foreign Ministry of Ukraine said.
To stay in Thailand for more than 30 days, regardless of the purpose of the trip, you must obtain a visa at the appropriate diplomatic mission or consular office.
The Foreign Ministry recalls that citizens of Ukraine should be covered by insurance when traveling abroad.
Retail trade turnover in Ukraine in comparable prices in January and February 2019 increased by 6.8% compared to January and February 2018, to UAH 150.913 billion, the State Statistics Service has reported.
According to its data, in February 2019 retail trade turnover compared with January 2019 decreased by 4.4%, and compared with February 2018 it grew by 7.2%.
The largest increase in the retail trade turnover of enterprises (legal entities and individual entrepreneurs) in January and February 2019 compared with January and February 2018 was recorded in Zakarpattia (by 14.6%), Kyiv (by 11.1%), Vinnytsia (by 10.1%), Lviv (by 9.5%), Ivano-Frankivsk (by 8.9%), Dnipropetrovsk (by 7.9%), Odesa (by 7.8%), Ternopil (by 7.7%) and Rivne (by 7.5%) regions.
The leaders in absolute terms of the volume of retail turnover for the specified period are: Kyiv city (UAH 28.781 billion), Dnipropetrovsk (UAH 14.208 billion), Kharkiv (UAH 12.243 billion), Odesa (UAH 10.685 billion), Kyiv (UAH 10.627 billion) and Lviv (UAH 9.455 billion) regions.
According to statistics, in January and February 2019 compared to 2018, retail trade turnover in Donetsk region increased by 7.2%, to UAH 4.754 billion, and Luhansk region – by 3.4%, to UAH 1.395 billion.
The State Statistics Service said that the turnover of retail enterprises (legal entities) February 2019 compared with February 2018 increased by 7.9%, and compared to January 2019 decreased by 4.3%, to UAH 53.505 billion. In January-February 2019 the turnover of retail enterprises rose by 7.4%, to UAH 109.203 billion.
The wholesale turnover of enterprises in January and February 2019 compared with January and February 2018 decreased by 5.7% and amounted to UAH 301.309 billion.
As reported, the retail trade turnover of Ukraine in 2018 increased by 6.1%.
The State Statistics Service noted that the data are given excluding the temporarily occupied territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, the city of Sevastopol and the area of the joint forces operation.
On March, 23 and 24 in «The Kyivan Rus Park» a show-program «The World of Horses» will take place. The program introduces the horses of rare ancient breeds collected from all over the world. An unforgettable time travel into the epoch of the Middle Ages with horse-trick performances, Slavic amusements, master-classes, horse riding, delicious food prepared on open fire, zip-line , and many other activities will be waiting for the guests.
Ancient Kyiv opens at 10:00. The program starts at 13:30.
The ticket price: a full adult ticket – 170 UAH, for pensioners and students – 150 UAH, for schoolchildren – 60 UAH, for preschool children – for free.
Ancient Kyiv in the «Kyivan Rus Park» is located in Kyiv region, Obukhiv district, the vill. Kopachiv.
Route taxis leave from Kyiv from the «Vydybitchi» metro station.
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».
The largest number of vacancies in 2018 was offered in the field of sales, IT, telecoms and marketing, according to a study conducted by the international recruiting portal HeadHunter Ukraine.
According to its press release, with reference to the results of the survey, last year both a rise and a decline were observed in the labor market of Ukraine.
More than half of respondents, describing the situation in the industry where their company operates, called it stable or noted some growth and positive dynamics.
According to HeadHunter Ukraine, the regional structure of vacancies and resumes last year remained unchanged. The top five regions include Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Odesa, and Lviv regions. In terms of cities, the largest number of both vacancies and resumes was presented in the capital.
According to the study, competition in the labor market in the country in 2018 was mainly at the level of three or four people per vacancy. The growth of the load on one vacant job of up to five people was recorded in October-December.
