Canadian divisions of the world’s major retail chains – Walmart, Sobeys, METRO, Farm Boy, Loblaws – have expressed interest in sourcing Ukrainian goods after the Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement (CUFTA) enters into force in summer 2017. The search of suppliers has already started by the Export Promotion Center under the Ukrainian League of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (ULIE) after talks with the Canadian retailers in Toronto on May 30-31.
The willingness to buy Ukrainian food and consumer goods was discussed at the talks between the retailers’ representatives and the leadership of the Ukrainian League of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs at the local retailers conference STORE 2017.
The negotiations resulted into the launch of a campaign to search for Ukrainian manufacturers who are ready to export their products to Canadian supermarkets. This was announced by ULIE Vice-President, Coordinator of the Export Promotion Center under the ULIE Denys Krasnikov after a meeting with Canadian retailers.
According to him, the Canadian retail chains are interested in Ukrainian honey, sunflower oil, nuts, canned vegetables, garlic, tomato paste, pasta, canned peas and beans, textile goods, and cosmetics. Ukrainian producers’ goods will be sold in Canadian supermarkets as private labels, which will not require significant marketing expenses from the producers.
Talks on the supply of furniture products to IKEA-Canada and its sales via the biggest websites also yielded good results. Representatives of the well-known furniture brand praised the quality of Ukrainian furniture and said they are ready to order it from Ukrainian suppliers on the private label terms.
Negotiations with the president of Staples Canada touched upon potential cooperation with Ukrainian producers of stationery and office supplies.
The removal of barriers for Ukrainian exports to Canada was discussed at a meeting of Denys Krasnikov with President and CEO at Retail Council of Canada Diane J. Brisebois and Senior Vice-President at Retail Council of Canada David Wilkes. It is expected to happen due to the CUFTA’s entry into force in summer 2017.
KYIV. June 16 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The bill entitled “Budget Policy Basics for 2018-2020” (Budget Resolution) provides for the annual allocation of UAH 1 billion for the government program on reimbursement of medicines.
“Aimed at increasing affordability of healthcare it is foreseen to support the implementation of the national medicine reimbursement program. It is planned to send UAH 1 billion each year in 2018-2020,” Finance Minister Oleksandr Danyliuk said at a government meeting on Wednesday.
He also said that the healthcare reform is fully backed with funds.
“We have changed the focus of the budget financing from maintaining budget-sustained institutions to financing high quality services. I want to tell all skeptics that the medial reform has enough financial resources,” Danyliuk said.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman said that at present 1.4 million citizens use the Affordable Medicine program.
KYIV. June 16 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The State Fish Agency and experts from the Reforms Delivery Office have drawn up a bill proposing the creation of the fishing industry promotion fund, the budget of which tentatively could be UAH 50 million a year.
“In 2016, only for violation of fishing rules fishing industry saw UAH 35 million of losses and UAH 3.8 million of finds were imposed. In addition, compensation for industrial fish catch and dredging works is paid. However, these funds are diluted in the budget. They are not used to restore fish stocks. The fund would help to use the funds generated by the sector for its development,” Head of the State Fish Agency Yarema Kovaliv said at a press conference on Wednesday.
According to preliminary calculations, the funds’ annual budget could be around UAH 50 million. The sources of financing of the fund will be fees for the use of water bio resources, administrative fines for violation of legislation on protection of water bio resources, refunding of damage, contributions by international organizations, charitable contributions and other sources.
“When the money reaches the fund, it will be distributed for top priority goals. The supervisory board consisting of representatives of the state, scientific circles and civil society will consider the projects where the money goes. Among them are scientific researches, restoration of fish stocks in water reservoirs, maintenance of fish patrol agencies and support of fish farmers,” he said.
The agency expects that when the fund starts operating, in three or five years the agency will be able to fully finance its needs without attracting additional financing from the general fund of the national budget.
Kovaliv said that now some UAH 140 million is required to provide for minimum need of fish patrol in new equipment.
“The optimal sum is close to UAH 200 million. Some UAH 300 million is required to fully satisfy the need, and in fact the Fish Agency received UAH 40 million this year,” he said.
KYIV. June 16 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Ukraine since the beginning of the 2016/2017 agricultural year (July-June) and as of June 14, 2017 had exported 42.3 million tonnes of grain.
According to the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food, the country exported about 17 million tonnes of wheat, 5.2 million tonnes of barley, and 19.7 million tonnes of corn.
In addition, 366,900 tonnes of flour had been as of the date.
As reported, with reference to the ministry, Ukraine in the 2015/2016 agri-year (July-June) exported 39.487 million tonnes of grain, which is 13.5% more than in the previous season.
KYIV. June 16 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The agreement between Australia and Ukraine on cooperation in the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes took effect on June 15, the Ukrainian government press service said.
“The Australian embassy to Ukraine informs Ukraine with Note No.44/17 of June 15 that Australia has completed the internal procedures needed for the enactment of the agreement,” the report said.
The agreement was signed in Washington, D.C., on March 31, 2016.
According to the estimation of the Ukrainian ambassador to Australia, the country can meet up to 30% of the Ukrainian energy sector’s need for nuclear fuel.
KYIV. June 16 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has met with President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Shinichi Kitaoka to discuss the implementation of large-scale investment projects designed to enhance energy security, develop infrastructure and protect the environment in Ukraine.
“They also discussed the ways to expand trade, economic and investment cooperation between Ukraine and Japan. To this end, it was agreed to establish JICA in Ukraine soon,” the Ukrainian presidential press service reported on Thursday, June 15.
Poroshenko thanked the government of Japan for the large-scale financial and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine aimed to support reforms and democratic institutions, facilitate economic development and restore the areas of Donbas ruined by war.
According to the report, this is Shinichi Kitaoka’s first visit to Ukraine in the history of the bilateral relations.
