The World Economic Forum (WEF) has opened the world’s second Global Government Technology Center (GGTC Kyiv) in the capital of Ukraine, the press service of the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine reported.
“It is not by chance that Ukraine became the second country in the world where the Global Government Technology Center started its work. I am proud that our progress is recognized at the international level, and I am confident that GGTC Kyiv will become a center of cooperation, innovation and transformational solutions in the field of digital governance,” the press service quotes the Deputy Prime Minister for Innovation, Education, Science and Technology – Minister of Digital Transformation Mikhail Fedorov as saying.
It is reported that GGTC Kyiv will become a platform for cooperation between governments, businesses, scientists, technology companies and startups. It will facilitate the introduction of innovative solutions, exchange of the best GovTech practices and realization of joint projects. Through cooperation with international partners, Ukrainian startups will be able to share experience and accelerate digital reforms in the public sector around the world.
“The Center in Ukraine will support our global efforts to unlock the enormous potential of digital technologies to improve public services and create new opportunities. It will be a catalyst for cooperation between the public and private sectors, promoting digital technology and innovation at such a critical time for Ukraine and Europe,” the press service quoted WEF Director Mirek Dussek as saying.
GGTC Kyiv will host the GovTech Observatory, a platform for tracking global and national trends in GovTech. It is expected to become a place for knowledge sharing and data-driven policy development. In addition, Innovation Gateway – a platform for finding partners, piloting and scaling technologies in Ukraine with global investments. FutureGov Education – a training platform for public sector leaders to adapt the latest technologies such as digital twins and artificial intelligence. In partnership with CDTO Campu, the center will create a space for experimentation where leaders from around the world can test and implement promising digital solutions.
GGTC Kyiv is headed by social entrepreneur and innovation leader Zoya Litvin.
“Our mission at GGTC Kyiv is to position Ukraine as a global leader in GovTech innovation and inclusive digital transformation. By connecting with the World Economic Forum network and deepening collaboration across sectors, we aim to create solutions that strengthen governance, empower people, and set new standards of transparency and accountability in the digital age. We invite partners from around the world to join us in developing the future of governance,” Litvin was quoted as saying by the press service of the Ministry of Digitization.
The agreement to open GGTC Kyiv Fedorov, WEF President Berge Brende and its managing director Jeremy Jurgens signed in January 2024. It was reported that the first to open a similar center in Berlin, and Ukraine will become the second country in the world where such a platform will be opened.
In May, it was reported that the decision to open the center was contained in a memorandum that Fedorov, World Economic Forum Director Mirek Dushek and Eastern Europe Foundation President Viktor Lyakh signed at the Diia summit in Zurich. GGTC Kyiv will participate in the WEF and popularize the Ukrainian experience of digitalization at the global level.
https://thedigital.gov.ua/news/u-kievi-vidkrili-drugiy-u-sviti-global-government-technology-centre
“TAS Dneprovagonmash (DVM, Kamianske, Dnipro region) will supply more than 400 freight cars (gondola cars and platform cars) to Ukrzaliznytsia and Lithuanian Railways by the end of the first half of 2025 following the results of the tenders won in November-2024, the company reports on its Facebook page.
“The company started the winter production season by signing two major contracts with Ukrzaliznytsia and Lithuanian Railways,” the company said in a statement.
DVM clarifies that gondola cars of the 12-4106 model will be manufactured for Lithuanian partners, and a new development of the plant – 40-foot platform cars for large-tonnage containers of the 13-4155 model – will be delivered to UZ.
As reported, the Lithuanian rail freight operator LTG Cargo (part of Lithuanian Railways) will purchase 200 gondola cars for bulk cargo transportation from DVM for EUR 12.7 million. The first gondola cars are expected to be delivered in February-April 2025.
For its part, according to Prozorro, on December 3, TAS Dniprovagonmash and Ukrzaliznytsia signed a contract for the supply of 252 units of 40-foot fitting platform cars by June 30, 2025, for UAH 707.011 million (including VAT).
The contract provides for a 50% advance payment within 20 calendar days from the date of invoice.
In addition to TAS Dneprovagonmash, the Research and Mechanical Plant Karpaty participated in the tender for the supply of platform cars to UZ, with a bid of UAH 589.680 million against UAH 589.176 million from DVM, for an expected purchase price of UAH 608.58 million (all excluding VAT).
According to the State Railways Administration, the new platform cars have a tare weight of 20.5 tons and a carrying capacity of 73.5 tons, which “will guarantee the transportation of maximum cargo volumes compared to analogous cars available on the market.”
In addition, the platforms will be able to run on the EU rail network.
“TAS Dneprovagonmash is controlled by the TAS financial and industrial group of businessman Serhiy Tigipko. The plant, which has the capacity to produce 9,000 railcars a year, produced 378 freight cars in 2023, down 34.5% from 2022.
In January-September, the company posted a consolidated net profit of UAH 84.08 million, up 6% compared to the same period in 2023, while consolidated net income increased by 62.8% to UAH 1.61 billion.
China in November increased steelmaking by 2.5% YoY against the same month last year – up to 78.4 million tons, according to the State Statistics Office of the country. Meanwhile, relative to October, production decreased by 4.3%.
In January-November, steel output decreased by 2.7% YoY and amounted to 929.19 million tons.
The production of pig iron in China last month amounted to 67.5 million tons, which is 4.1% more than a year earlier, but 3.9% lower than in October. The country produced 782.8 million tons of pig iron in the eleven-month period, down 3.5% from the volume for the same period in 2023.
China has been the world’s biggest steel producer for years.
On December 15, the Kyiv Event Hall by Ramada Encore hosted an outstanding event – the annual SBC Ukraine Awards ceremony. Among the partners of the event, a special place was taken by HITBIT PRO, which presented its innovative cryptocard and confirmed its status as a technological leader in Ukraine.
HITBIT PRO is a Ukrainian startup created by Igor Kucherenko and Dmitry Nikiforov that is changing the way people think about the convenience of financial transactions. Their main product – a cryptocard – allows you to pay for purchases in cryptocurrency, exchange and withdraw funds directly through POS terminals in any country in the world.
At the event, the HITBIT PRO team presented an interactive stand where guests had the opportunity to see the product in action. Visitors were able to register, order a card, and try out real-time payment. This demonstration caused a real sensation among the participants of the SBC Ukraine Awards.
“Our mission is to make financial transactions simple, convenient and accessible to everyone. We are proud that our product represents Ukraine in the global financial arena,” said Igor Kucherenko, co-founder of HITBIT PRO.
HITBIT PRO has received positive feedback not only from business representatives, but also from marketing agencies that already see the prospects of cooperation with such an innovative product. Thanks to such initiatives, SBC Ukraine Awards is becoming a platform for discovering new ideas and solutions in the field of sports, business, and technology.
CRYPTO CARD, DMITRY NIKIFOROV, HitBit Pro, MASTERCARD, Ігор Кучеренко
The first agreement under the state program “eHouse” for the purchase of an apartment in the house under construction in the eco-city Lucky Land by DIM was signed on Tuesday, December 17, the DIM press service reported.
“Signing an agreement to buy an apartment in the modern eco-city Lucky Land with the help of the state program eOselya is an important step towards providing affordable housing for many of our clients and confirming the reliability and transparency of DIM, because during accreditation, banks check the developer very carefully,” Olga Arbuzova, head of sales at Lucky Land, commented on the event, according to the report.
The state program of affordable mortgage lending “eOselya” has been launched in Ukraine since October 2022. Contract servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, employees of the security and defense sector, medical workers, teachers, and researchers can apply for a preferential mortgage at 3% per annum for up to 20 years with a down payment of 20% of the cost of housing.
Starting from August 1, 2023, war veterans, combatants, internally displaced persons (IDPs) and citizens who do not have their own housing over the standard area can apply for the program at 7%.
Lucky Land (6 Berkovetska St.) is a comfort-class residential complex designed as a multifunctional area with developed infrastructure. It includes 23 buildings with a height of 13-14 floors, a total of 5183 apartments, with a guest parking lot for 2.5 thousand and an underground parking lot for 356 cars.
DIM Group was founded in 2014 and specializes in a full cycle of development, including design, construction, and property management. During this time, the company has commissioned 15 buildings in eight residential complexes, a total of 3,640 apartments, and built more than 332.7 thousand square meters of residential and commercial space. Six residential complexes of the comfort+ and business class categories are under construction: “Metropolis, Park Lake City, Lucky Land, A136 Highlight Tower, Olegiv Podil, and The One.
It joined the state program of affordable housing lending “eOselya” in the spring of this year. SKY Bank, a partner bank of the state program for affordable lending, has accredited DIM’s residential complexes, which are at the final stage of construction, for participation in the eHouse program: houses No. 4 and No. 6 in Lucky Land and house No. 3 in Metropolis in Kyiv.
https://interfax.com.ua/news/economic/1034879.html
The Export Credit Agency of Ukraine (ECA) has supported exports worth UAH 7.22 billion in 11 months of 2024, First Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Yulia Svyrydenko said.
“Supporting and developing non-resource exports is one of the key areas of the Made in Ukraine policy. Over eleven months, the ECA has insured UAH 1 billion of export credits, supporting UAH 7.22 billion of exports. This is almost UAH 2 billion more than in January-November 2023. It is important that one hryvnia of insurance liability was converted into UAH 7.83 of future export revenue,” the press service of the Ministry of Economy quoted the Deputy Prime Minister as saying.
According to the Ministry, the top three regions in terms of exports supported over 11 months are as follows: Kyiv – UAH 3.8 billion (UAH 304 million of loans issued), Lviv – UAH 1.25 billion (UAH 147 million), Vinnytsia – UAH 702.8 million (UAH 183 million).
In 2024, eight banks insured their clients’ loans with the ECA. Ukrgasbank ranked first in terms of supported exports for the period under review (UAH 2.9 billion), FUIB was second (UAH 1.78 billion), and MTB Bank was third (UAH 980 million).
The most popular countries for exporting Ukrainian goods are Poland, the UAE, Azerbaijan, Germany, and Slovakia.
The largest export volumes were in the commodity groups of milk and dairy products, wood and wood products, and processed fruits and vegetables.
The ECA instruments are one of the elements of the “Made in Ukraine” policy, which was presented by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in February. Its goal is to support non-resource exports, develop production and attract investment in the real sector, the Ministry of Economy reminded.
