Ukraine in January-March 2019 exported 1,650 tonnes of cheese, which was 14% less that in January-March 2018.
According to customs statistics released by Ukraine’s State Fiscal Service (SFS), cheese exports in monetary terms amounted to $5.8 million, which was 19% lower than the figure for the first three months of 2018.
At the same time, imports of cheese in January-March 2019 totaled 4,000 tonnes, which was 43% more than in January-March last year. The imports in monetary terms increased 31%, to $18.9 million.
Exports of Ukrainian creamery butter in January-March 2019 decreased 35%, to 5,900 tonnes. The exports in monetary terms decreased 38%, to $23.8 million. Imports of creamery butter, according to the SFS, decreased by 33%, to 211 tonnes ($1.44 million).
In January-March 2019, exports of condensed milk and cream decreased by 23%, to 5,900 tonnes. Ukraine supplied condensed milk and cream to the tune of $11.3million, which was 13.6% less than in January-March 2018. Their imports decreased 10.6%, to 468 tonnes ($970,000).
As was reported, Ukraine in 2018 imported 13,720 tonnes of cheese (37.1% up from 2017) and exported 8,340 tonnes of cheese (7.8% down from 2017).
Last year, exports of butter remained at the level of 2017, imports increased slightly, to 1,100 tonnes.
Exports of condensed milk and cream totaled 35,550 tonnes (24.1% down from 2017), imports were 2,360 tonnes (38.6% up from 2017).
PJSC Ukrnafta in March 2019 increased oil and condensate production by 6.4% (7,700 tonnes) compared to March 2018, to 128,800 tonnes, the press service of the company has reported.
Natural gas production increased by 12.9% (11.4 million cubic meters), to 100.1 million cubic meters.
The average daily production, respectively, amounted to 4,200 tonnes of oil and 3.2 million cubic meters of gas.
As reported, according to the non-audited statements, in 2018 Ukrnafta received UAH 6.628 billion of net profit against UAH 101.771 million of profit for 2017.
Last year, the company increased its oil and gas condensate production by 5% compared with 2017, to 1.448 million tonnes. Gas production decreased by 2.3%, to 1.082 billion cubic meters, production of liquefied gas by 5.2%, to 110,000 tonnes.
GAS, OIL, PRODUCTION, UKRNAFTA
China in 2019-2020 will provide Ukraine with free technical and economic assistance for 200 million yuan ($29.7 million), most of which will be used to purchase special emergency rescue vehicles and equipment for the State Emergencies Service.
The corresponding intergovernmental agreement was signed in Kyiv on April 11, the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade reported.
According to the report, the State Emergencies Service should receive more than 50 units of machinery, in particular, cranes, crawler bulldozers, motor graders, fire trucks with lifting platforms and fire trucks with a ladder for rescue operations.
The signed intergovernmental agreement also provides for the provision of equipment for simultaneous translation and conference systems of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, as well as the implementation of other coordinated Ukraine-China intergovernmental projects.
The Hilton Hotel will be built on the site where a museum in the Bohdan Khmelnytsky Park of Lviv that was closed, Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovy said at a meeting of the executive committee of Lviv City Council.
“We have made a decision: in Lviv, they want to build a hotel, it seems, Hilton. There should be half of the building – a classic hotel, half of the building – an apartment hotel. This should be a building of high architectural level – a work of art,” Sadovy said.
According to him, the developer agreed to finance the reconstruction of the Bohdan Khmelnytsky Park.
According to the text of the decision of September 20, 2018, the Lviv City Council approved the sale of a land parcel of 1.06 hectares located at 1, Lyzhvyarska Street in Lviv to Aparthotel LLC for UAH 18.52 million.
According to town planning conditions, the height of the building should not exceed 34 m. The building area is approximately 1,600 square meters. The total area of apartments is 8,300 square meters, or 157 apartments. The infrastructure of the facility will also include an underground parking area of 1,400 square meters.
UFuture Investment Group has opened Plank Electrotechnic, Ukraine’s first plant to produce modern electrotechnical systems. The building of the enterprise meets international BREEAM sustainability standards (compliance with about 50 criteria for environmental construction). Plank Electrotechnic products are now undergoing EU certification procedures.
“We have invested $2.8 million in the enterprise and expect to return the investment within five years. The Ukrainian market is a priority, but the company plans to expand the outreach to Eastern European consumers. I believe that the development of modern technological industries is a very promising area, both from business and social points of view – it is not only profit, but also taxes and jobs,” Vasyl Khmelnytsky, the founder of UFuture, has said.
Plank Electrotechnic will produce about 4.6 million units annually and will compete mainly with Chinese and Turkish manufacturers on the Ukrainian market. This high-tech enterprise will produce electrical fittings, accessories and components: sockets, switches, mounting boxes, cable ties, buttons, etc.
“Opening a new plant marks the beginning of the development of Plank innovative production cluster at Bila Tserkva Industrial Park which will make goods from high-tech materials in the field of electrical engineering, construction and mechanical engineering. We offer entrepreneurs who plan to work in these areas to quickly scale their businesses without unnecessary administrative and bureaucratic obstacles,” Chief Executive Officer of Bila Tserkva Industrial Park Volodymyr Khmurych has said.
The construction of three new plants at Bila Tserkva Industrial Park will start within the year, and 20 modern enterprises will be created in the next four years.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
UFuture is a Ukrainian private equity firm and group of companies, based in Kyiv. UFuture consolidates UDP, which is a real estate development company specialized in large infrastructure projects, the country’s second biggest Kyiv Sikorsky international airport, national Ukrainian outdoor advertising operator RTM, and Bila Tserkva industrial park. The group develops new and innovative businesses such as renewable energy generator UDP Renewables, pharmaceutical producer Biopharma, and innovation parks UNIT.City and LvivTech.City. UFuture supports and coordinates numerous impact and sustainability projects related to education and economics, some of which are annual Kyiv International Economic Forum, Small and Medium Entrepreneurship School, cutting-edge IT coding school UNIT Factory and Lean Institute Ukraine.
Bila Tserkva Industrial Park is a large-scale investment project aimed at facilitating establishment of modern manufacturing in Ukraine. It is a one-window platform that allows producers to access all necessary assets, utilities and services and focus on the development of their businesses. The park offers industrial land and property with all engineering infrastructure for rent or purchase, turn-key solutions and a possibility of co-investment in manufacturing. Local market insight and substantial experience in real estate development allows the park’s team to provide clients with additional consulting services on setting up an efficient production.
The European Business Association (EBA) has called to annul the excise label for wine, as it does not help to fight counterfeit products, while creates additional expenses for manufacturers, the press service of the association has reported.
According to the EBA, Ukrainian legislation requires the application of an excise label on all beverages with an ethyl alcohol content of more than 8.5% ABV. At the same time, wines with 1.2-15% ABV are subject to excise tax at a rate of UAH 0.01 per liter, while the value of the label is UAH 0.19 per piece. Alcohol importers also bear the cost of sending labels abroad.
“According to the calculations of the member companies of the association, there are UAH 278.6 of additional expenses per UAH 1 of the paid excise tax. Moreover, the major part of the sum does not go to the budget of Ukraine, but remains abroad,” the EBA said.
According to the EU regulations on labeling and protection of names of origin of alcoholic beverages, which Ukraine will have to adapt, beer from malt, grape wines, vermouth, cider and ethyl alcohol are not considered to be alcoholic beverages. Consequently, their quality control in Ukraine should not take place with the help of excise labels, but according to the general legislation on product safety, the EBA said.
“The products with alcohol content up to 8.5% ABV do not apply the excise labels. However, the safety control of such products is carried out. Therefore, it is reasonable to introduce the same logic for products with 1.2-15% ABV,” the EBA reports.
According to the press service, to abolish the excise labels, it is necessary to make changes to the Tax Code. “The business has already submitted the relevant proposals to the government. We hope that they will be taken into account in the near future,” the EBA said.
