KYIV. June 1 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko stands for the development of Ukrainian aviation industry as the strategic sector of the Ukrainian economy.
“Finally we have signed new contracts to supply Ukrainian aircraft to Saudi Arabia. Finally we agreed at a meeting with the president of Azerbaijan that the country buys our Antonov aircraft. Finally… Defense Ministry orders Ukrainian Antonov aircraft for the first time in many years. Believe me, this is only the beginning,” he said during his visit to Antonov State Enterprise on the occasion of its 70th anniversary in Kyiv on Tuesday.
Poroshenko said that Ukraine has entered new markets after Russia’s aggression.
“This is your job. This is what we have achieved and we are looking ahead with confidence,” he said addressing the plant’s employees.
He thanked Antonov employees for their jobs and contribution into the development of Ukrainian aviation industry.
“Today we saw the opportunities of building one more Mriya An-225. We have the fuselage of unique aircraft An-70,” he said.
Poroshenko instructed to consider all opportunities, explore the market carefully and inform him on the possibility of completing the construction of An-70 and Mriya. The president said that there is a task to make aviation industry a strategic sector of the Ukrainian economy and make Ukraine the key player on the global aviation market.
The president had a conversation with veterans of the plant and crew of Mriya An-225 that has returned from Australia recently. The crew presented him the Ukrainian flag, which was on board of Mriya during the flight to Australia.
KYIV. June 1 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The 16th International Financial Forum with participation of heads and chief specialists of insurance, reinsurance, brokerage, assistance, auditing, consulting, law and rating companies operating in the insurance sector, heads of the national commission for financial service markers regulation and other public agencies will take place in Odesa on September 14 through September 17, 2016, the Business Strategy Center Perspektiva has said on its website.
Business Strategy Center Perspektiva and the League of Insurance Organizations of Ukraine (LIOU) organize the event.
The main objectives of the forum is to develop integration processes on the international financial market, the consolidation of the financial sector of the market, distribution excellence and achievements of modern management, exchange new ideas and experiences.
A roundtable devoted to the insurers’ assets management and their protection in the conditions of the new tax policy.
Event participants would consider the strategy for developing the Ukrainian financial sector, the state and trends on international financial markets.
The organizers said that representatives of the financial sector from Austria, Belarus, Britain, Latvia, Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic are accredited for the forum: in general, around 150-180 specialists from 14-18 countries.
Organizing Committee accepts proposals for program development and partnership activities during the forum.
The 15th International Financial Forum was held in Odesa on September 16 through September 19, 2015.
KYIV. June 1 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The GMP compliance procedure needs to be relaxed along with facilitating the imported medicines registration procedure, the European Business Association (EBA) has said.
“Welcoming steps on the way to improving regulations we also ask registration to be accelerated in respect to providing proof of GMP compliance,” the EBA said in a press release.
The association experts said that this document is mandatory for the registration of medicines and it takes a lot of time to get it.
“We hope that this obvious barrier to simplifying registration would be also taken into consideration during the final approval of the bill,” the EBA said.
In general, the EBA positively assesses the final bill on facilitating medicines registration.
The association said that according to the document, only those medicines permitted in all 28 EU states can be imported to the Ukrainian market.
KYIV. May 31 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman after visiting Mariupol Illich Steel Works (Donetsk region), part of Metinvest Group, and talking to management has ordered that ministries and agencies discuss the problems the mining and metal companies and hold a special meeting.
Metinvest said in a press release that the Prime Minister attended the sinter plant reconstruction site – the largest environmental project in the history of independent Ukraine (at the end of five years of the project the total investment will comprise $220 million).
In the course of the meeting the group’s and enterprise management drew attention of the prime minister to the infrastructure problems encountered by the iron and steel works in Mariupol: Mariupol Illich Steel Works and Azovstal. The discussion touched upon the possibility to increase the throughput capacity of Polohy–Kamysh-Zoria–Volnovakha railway section, which would facilitate an increase the volumes of raw materials supply to Mariupol and finished goods shipments from Mariupol significantly.
The steel makers also mentioned the need to deepen the waters of Mariupol seaport to open the possibility to receive large vessels.
During his visit to Mariupol Illich Steel Works, Groysman instructed the Economic Development and Trade Ministry to arrange an ad hoc meeting involving the executives of the Infrastructure Ministry and Ukrzaliznytsia, as well as other ministries and departments in order to discuss the state policy in the field of support to the mining and metals sector.
Groysman noted that there was also the issue of rising railway tariffs by Ukrzaliznytsia.
“I want us to sit at a round table and clearly discuss the problems to be resolved in order to expand the product range and export capabilities, rather than the decline production. Exports for us are of utmost importance,” he said.
He said that the development of domestic infrastructure projects could stimulate related industries, including metallurgy. In this regard, he noted the importance of Metinvest Group’s investments in modernization of the production facilities, adding that the metallurgy was an industry, the development of which was absolutely necessary. Groysman also promised to render assistance by the government in terms of strengthening competitive ability of the Ukrainian companies with export potential.
“The modernization program at the enterprise gives us confidence that the environmental situation in Mariupol will start improving already in 2017. Within five years, the emissions to the atmosphere will meet EU standards. This development should be welcomed. I would like Ukraine to switch from raw materials-based economy to high added-value economy. During our visit to Mariupol, we saw, where the national produced (wealth) is being created. We will do everything possible to stimulate business, so it attracts investments for the construction of new capacities and national wealth,” Groysman said.
Chief Executive Officer of Metinvest Group Yuriy Ryzhenkov said that despite challenges the group continues investing in development of its production facilities.
“During 10 years, the company has invested $5.5 billion in production. We intend to continue the modernization emphasizing environmental safety. The support from the government is crucial. Without the government’s assistance in the area of fair pricing policies for state monopolies and resolving infrastructure problems, steel producers will have extremely hard time competing in international markets and developing their production facilities,” he said.
Metinvest Group is a vertically integrated group of steel and mining companies that manages every link of the value chain, from mining and processing iron ore and coal to making and selling semi-finished and finished steel products. It comprises steel and mining production facilities located in Ukraine, Europe and the US, as well as a sales network covering all key global markets.
KYIV. May 31 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Horizon Capital intends to launch private equity fund Emerging Europe Growth Fund III, L.P. with a capital of $150 million, according to a newsletter from the fund.
According to the document, the fund will focus on small but fast-growing export-oriented companies in Ukraine and Moldova. The fund will invest primarily through the purchase of minority stakes in such companies. At the same time, if necessary, provision of start-up capital, a full redemption of companies or participation in privatization is possible.
One of the investors in the fund may become Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC, the United States). The OPIC board of directors will consider the issue of providing the fund with $37.5 million for ten years on June 9, 2016.
Horizon Capital was established in 2006. It manages private equity funds Western NIS Enterprise Fund (WNISEF, established in 1994 with a capital of $150 million), Emerging Europe Growth Fund, L.P. (EEGF, established in 2006 with a capital of $132 million) and EEGF II (EEGF, established in 2008 with $370 million capital).
The money of these funds is invested in projects in Ukraine, Moldova, and Belarus.
KYIV. May 31 (Interfax-Ukraine) – China Nuclear Energy Industry Corporation and Ukrainian concern Nuclear Fuel are discussing $600 million investment in uranium mining in Kirovohrad region, Head of Sumy Regional State Administration Mykola Klochko has said following his visit to China.
“Nuclear Fuel cooperates with China Nuclear Energy Industry Corporation in attracting investment in the amount of about $600 million for joint uranium production in Kirovohrad region,” the press service of Sumy Regional State Administration said.
As reported, in July 2015 Nuclear Fuel and China Nuclear Energy Industry Corporation (CNEIC) signed a memorandum on cooperation in the field of a nuclear fuel cycle.
