KYIV. April 29 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Ukrainian-Chinese cooperation should be planned at the strategic level, and it is time for Kyiv and Beijing to start a dialog on the creation of a free trade area between the countries, Chinese Ambassador to Ukraine Zhang Xiyun has said.
“We should plan cooperation at the strategic level. This is how I see the work of the bilateral intergovernmental commission,” the Chinese diplomat said at a panel discussion devoted to Ukraine’s prospects in participating in the new strategy of the Chinese government “Silk Road economic belt” as part of Second National Export Support Forum in Kyiv on Thursday.
He said that today Ukraine and China have different economies and the governments should create and change the conditions for business aimed at concrete final outcome.
“I would like to bring up good [bilateral] economic projects created not under government directives, but businessmen,” he said, adding that the facilitations of tax and customs procedures is the work of the government.
Xiyun expressed confidence that there is a large potential of Ukrainian-Chinese cooperation: according to the Chinese customs authorities, goods turnover between the countries in 2015 totaled USD 7.07 billion, and this was 17.6% down on 2014. China’s share of Ukrainian foreign trade is 8.2%, and Ukraine’s share of Chinese foreign trade is only 0.18%, he said.
The diplomat said that today China is second largest trade partner of Ukraine, and Chinese investment portfolio in Ukraine as of late 2015 reached USD 1 trillion.
“In 2015 USD 100 billion was invested in the [global economy] in the form of credits,” he said.
“Chinese investors are still confident in the Ukrainian market. No investor in the past two or three years left [Ukraine]. No agreement was terminated. They [projects] are live, but I want them to be actively performed,” he said.
“Ukraine is a favorable geographic location: in the center of Europe. The country’s special asset is intellectual resource. One should think what the situation will be in ten, twenty and thirty years,” he said.
KYIV. April 29 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has assessed the situation in the Ukrainian economy and international markets and shared his views on the country’s development with businessmen.
“Our first priority is restoration of economic growth and we have an opportunity to radically change the country for business to feel more comfortable,” the press service of the president reported, citing Poroshenko.
“We will not resort to populism at the cost of the Ukrainian economy. Instead, we will make reforms that will ensure creation of an efficient, attractive and comfortable investment climate,” Poroshenko noted.
The head of state called the decision of the government on the establishment of a new fair market price for gas a “powerful anti-corruption step.”
“Everyone knows what was done with the difference in prices – fraud aimed at increasing the volume of consumption. This is for the population and this is for the district heating provider. Dealers were earning money on that and politicians covered them,” Poroshenko said.
According to the president, adoption of a fair decision on tariffs as regards both people and business is crucial, because it forms a “right approach to energy saving and energy diversification, energy security and struggle against corruption in oil and gas sector.”
At the same time, the head of state pointed out the necessity of supporting vulnerable groups of people.
The president reminded that Ukraine had restored the parliamentary coalition and formed a new Ukrainian government. In this context, he urged the parliament to speed up the adoption of necessary legislative changes aimed at simplification of privatization process, deregulation and acceleration of other economic reforms, in particular holding transparent contest for election of state enterprises management.
He also pointed out an important role of the group of strategic advisors that works with the Ukrainian government under the chairmanship of Leszek Balcerowicz and Ivan Miklos, “famous world reformers who ensure both content and communication strategy of our cooperation.”
The head of state noted the importance of continuing cooperation with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and outlined the efforts of the government that will be made in that direction, including currency liberalization and European-type de-offshoring.
In the course of the discussion, the parties expressed support for the decisions of the government on the establishment of a market gas price, as well as the policy of National Bank of Ukraine, “which is one of the most successful reformers of the country according to foreign and domestic investors.”
KYIV. April 28 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Nibulon (Mykolaiv), one of the largest Ukrainian producers and exporters of grains and oilseeds, intends to commission the second transshipment terminal in Mykolaiv region (a branch of Voznesenska) in about 50 days.
According to a report on Nibulon’s website, after commissioning the terminal the company will be able to accept up to 10,000 tonnes of agricultural products per day, shipping them (including for exports) on board own self-propelled vessels built in Mykolaiv.
According to Nibulon Director General Oleksiy Vadatursky, the terminal is a high-tech automated complex, which consists of about 45 public facilities, including administrative and laboratory facilities, granaries for 5,500 tonnes each, lines for grain shipment on board self-propelled vessels and others.
As reported, Nibulon’s investment in the construction of the second handling terminal will amount to UAH 450 million.
Nibulon was created in 1991. It is one of the largest operators in the grain market of the country. The company has elevators with a total capacity of more than 1.7 million tonnes, as well as own transshipment terminal in Mykolaiv.
KYIV. April 28 (Interfax-Ukraine) – President and owner of DCH Group Oleksandr Yaroslavsky on Wednesday acquired a controlling stake in public joint-stock company Kharkiv Tractor Plant.
The press service of DCH reported that the proposal to sign the deal was from a shareholder in the plant and Austrian businessman Siegfried Wolf.
“In the situation with the plant it should be urgently saved. We can’t be having that the enterprise with a large potential dies. Wellbeing of almost 10,000 Kharkiv residents [workers with their families] and around 100,000 workers of adjacent enterprises all over Ukraine depends on its stability. An international consortium that we have created will work to achieve two key goals: restoration of production and return of Kharkiv Tractor Plant to the international level,” the press service said, citing Yaroslavsky.
The deal is being finalized.
Kharkiv Tractor Plant produces wheeled and tracked tractors, as well as road-building machinery based on tractors.
KYIV. April 28 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Kredobank (Lviv) in partnership with U.S. Western NIS Enterprise Fund (WNISEF) has started crediting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) on beneficial conditions, the bank’s press service has reported.
The bank said that the agreement between the bank and the fund was signed in April as part of the Economic Leadership Program, Export Promotion Policy Program, Impact Investing Program and Local Economic Development Program.
Earlier state-run Oschadbank joined the implementation of the programs.
Ukrainian enterprises would be able to receive affordable loans and individual businessmen in some cases. The entities are to realize social programs or settle some social issues of vulnerable people.
The bank said that these companies will be able to get credits from $10,000 to $100,000 in the hryvnia equivalent at 5-9% per annum for the term of up to 24 months to replenish working capital and up to 36 months to buy equipment, vehicles or property.
Own payment by the borrower for credits to buy equipment and property is to be from 10% to 30% of the cost of equipment or property.
KYIV. April 28 (Interfax-Ukraine) – A decree of the head of state of Indonesia foreseeing a visa free regime for Ukrainian citizens who arrive to the country for the period of less than 30 days has taken effect, the consulate department of Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry has reported.
The decree of Indonesia President of March 2, 2016 entered into force. Ukrainian diplomats said that visas are required only for journalist activities.
Ukrainian citizens are to show their passports at least six months of validity from the moment of arrival to Indonesia, return tickets of tickets to another country.
“Border services have the right to confirm the purpose of travel,” the department said.
