ODESA. Sept 9 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Ukraine plans to attract ferry operators from Georgia, Azerbaijan and Turkey to solve the problems of downtime of transit goods, in particular at Illichivsk port (Odesa region, Infrastructure Minister Volodymyr Omelyan told reporters at a briefing in Odesa.
“We have held talks with a number of operators from Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkey who are willing to come to Ukraine and provide such [ferry] services,” he said.
In addition, Omelyan highlighted the importance of development of the south transit direction (to China and the Persian Gulf) by ferry and rail.
He added he plans in the near future to set up a clear timetable for the passage of such trains in an amount of not less than one or two pairs per week.
The official noted his ministry continues to negotiate with colleagues from Georgia, Azerbaijan and other countries to achieve agreement on a through rate in the direction of China and the Persian Gulf.
KYIV. Sept 9 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Ukraine invites investors from Singapore to participate in joint infrastructure projects, Infrastructure Minister Volodymyr Omelian has said.
“Ukraine is open to strategic investors from Singapore. We would be happy to welcome large Singaporean companies operating in the field of sea ports and port infrastructure, traffic management, aviation, railway and bridges,” he said during a meeting with an adviser of at the Transport Ministry of Singapore Yap Ong Heng at the International Transport Conference “Integrated Transport Corridors Europe – Asia” in Odesa on Thursday, the ministry’s press service reported.
Omelian expressed his hope that a law on concessions will be passed by the end of the year, which will allow foreign companies to plan their work in infrastructure in Ukraine for up to 49 years.
According to him, seaports may become most attractive area for foreign business.
“We are open for investors into port infrastructure and companies operating ports,” the minister added.
KYIV. Sept 9 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Ukraine’s Agricultural Policy and Food Ministry predicts that grain exports from Ukraine in 2016/17 agricultural year (July-June) will be 39.8 million tonnes.
“Grain supply for the year, taking into consideration carryover stocks, will be 70 million tonnes. Domestic consumption is 23.5 million tonnes. According to our assessments, the export potential is 39.8 million tonnes,” Agricultural Policy and Food Minister Taras Kutoviy said at a government meeting on Thursday.
He said that today 38 million tonnes of grain has been harvested. 55% of 25.5 million tonnes of wheat is bread wheat.
Average yield is 49 centners per ha.
The minister sees a possibility of increasing it by 20% thanks to the increase of yield at small and medium-sized farms.
Kutoviy added that if the yield is increased by 20%, the grain harvest in the country could grow by 8-9 million tonnes.
The minister also said that buckwheat harvest in 2016 would be 174,000 tonnes with domestic demand of 160,000 tonnes.
He said that there would not be a shortage of buckwheat in Ukraine and growth of prices should be monitored at retail chains.
He added that Ukraine sowed 83% of targeted area with rapeseeds or 600,000 ha.
KYIV. Sept 9 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman held a meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. The two prime ministers discussed prospects of Ukrainian-Hungarian cooperation and some agreement has been reached.
“At the meeting we agree on stirring up cooperation as part of the Ukrainian-Hungarian intergovernmental commission. Our task is to draw up a medium-term action plan for cooperation between Ukraine and Hungary in infrastructure, energy and agriculture,” Groysman wrote on his Facebook page late on Wednesday.
He said that another important topic was the necessity of exchanging information about movement of goods on the Ukrainian-Hungarian border.
“An agreement would help to fight smuggling, grey imports in the customs area,” the Ukrainian prime minister said.
After a meeting with prime ministers of four countries of the Visegrad Group, Groysman wrote that “the main result of this short, but intensive, visit is the enlargement of prospects for our mutually beneficial cooperation.”
KYIV. Sept 8 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko during a meeting with President of the National Council of Switzerland Christa Markwalder in Kyiv noted an 8.3% rise in Swiss investments in Ukraine in the first half of 2016.
According to the presidential press service, Poroshenko stated this is the first visit of the head of the lower house of the Swiss parliament to Ukraine.
“He expressed hope the next meeting of the Ukrainian-Swiss committee for trade and economic cooperation to be held in Kyiv in late September will contribute to a further increase in the pace of trade and investment between the two countries,” the report says.
The head of state thanked the Swiss side for the principled position as for non-recognition of the occupation of Crimea by the Russian Federation and the steps taken to prevent the use of Switzerland for Russia’s bypassing the sanctions imposed by the EU.
“Poroshenko said Ukraine strictly adheres to the course on the implementation of the Minsk agreements. He noted the prerequisite for progress in resolving the situation in Donbas is Russia’s starting the fulfillment of the obligations undertaken in the sphere of security,” the report reads.
KYIV. Sept 8 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The Ukrainian-German business forum will be held in Kyiv in October, according to the website of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade.
“The ministry together with the German economy delegation to Ukraine had been working on preparing the business forum for 2.5 months, the forum will take place on October 11, 2016. The program will consist of five panel discussions and B2B meetings of Ukrainian and German companies,” the report says.
Panel discussions on five themes are planned: industry, infrastructure and logistics, innovation and digital world, renewable energy and energy efficiency, agro-industry and food.
The report notes in June this year Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman and German Chancellor Angela Merkel agreed to hold the Ukrainian-German business forum in Kyiv.
As reported, in October last year the Ukrainian-German business forum was held in Berlin. About 600 participants, mostly German companies, should have attended the event.
