KYIV. Nov 25 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Ukraine and Hungary have agreed on financial cooperation, the development of checkpoints on the joint state border, infrastructure, as well as maintenance of bridges on the border.
According to the press service of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, during the visit of Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman to Hungary, the governments of Ukraine and Hungary signed a corresponding framework agreement on providing a loan on the terms of tied aid and a protocol of intent on the comprehensive development of checkpoints and infrastructure on the state border between Ukraine and Hungary.
The loan agreement will make it possible for Hungary to issue a tied aid loan for purchase of goods or services originating from Hungary. The credit funds can be used only for implementation of infrastructure projects specified in the annex to the agreement.
According to the agreement on the comprehensive development of border crossing points and infrastructure, Hungary will finance building a bypass road around Berehove in Zakarpattia region, as well as upgrading a highway between the towns of Mukacheve and Berehove with a targeted credit in the amount of EUR50 million.
KYIV. Nov 25 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman has called on Hungary to invest in Ukraine and resume the work of the intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation, which on the part of Ukraine is headed by Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze.
“The Ukrainian government will continue to create quality conditions for doing business in the country,” the press service of the Cabinet of Ministers said citing Groysman.
The premier also urged Hungarian businessmen to invest in the Ukrainian economy, in particular take part in a large-scale privatization program.
Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orban, in turn, said that over the last two years trade between the two countries significantly decreased, exchange of goods fell by 33%. However, during the first eight months of this year an 11% increase was recorded.
KYIV. Nov 25 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Chinese companies showed their interest in a possibility of importing Ukrainian beet sugar at the ANUFOOD China 2016 exhibition, the Ukrtsukor national association of sugar producers has reported.
“Today we have applications with specifications to supply sugar. We are drawing up the lists of potential clients,” Analyst of commodity markets and agriculture of the association Vasyl Dolynsky said.
He said that now there are some restrictions for entering the Chinese market. Ukrainian sugar is to be licensed, while the licensing is a complicated red tape procedure. Ukrainian producers would have to work hard to supply their products directly to China and not via Hong Kong as everyone is doing now.
Ukrtsukor said that sugar prices in Chinese supermarkets are attractive – starting from UAH 38 per kilogram.
KYIV. Nov 25 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Ukraine exported 17.18 million tonnes of grain since early 2016/17 agricultural year (July-June) as of November 24, 2016.
Ukraine’s Agricultural Policy and Food Ministry has reported that some 9.65 million tonnes of wheat, 3.95 million tonnes of barley and near 3.52 million tonnes of corn has been exported.
Around 131,500 tonnes of flour was exported as of November 25.
KYIV. Nov 24 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Agrospetsservis (Kirovohrad region) plans to begin the construction of a biogas plant 3-5 km far from its sugar factory.
“We are working on a biogas plant project now not to throw sugar beet pulp away but use it for biogas production,” group founder and director Serhiy Tarasov told reporters during the Agricultural Olympus 2016 international congress in Kyiv.
According to him, the company is currently conducting technological expertise to build the plant.
He said in the 2016/2017 marketing year (MY, September-August) Agrospetsservis will produce about 40,000 tonnes of sugar, of which 50% will be exported due to favorable world prices for sugar.
Agrospetsservis in the 2016/2017 MY will invest about $1-1.5 million in the modernization of its sugar refinery.
Agrospetsservis group of companies is engaged in cultivation of grains, oilseeds and sugar beets in Kirovohrad region. Its land bank is 41,000 ha.
KYIV. Nov 24 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The government committee has approved the sale of 71% in PJSC Cherkasyoblenergo in one package, Head of the State Property Fund (SPF) Ihor Bilous has said.
“As for Cherkasyoblenergo, today the governmental committee has decided to merge stakes, i.e. we’ll sell a combined package of 46% and 25% [owned by the State Property Fund and UkrESCO],” he told reporters in Kyiv.
According to him, the State Property Fund plans to resume privatization of regional power companies after the signing of the law on the National Commission on Energy, Housing and Utilities Services Regulation (NCER) and the actual announcement of RAB tariffs. In addition, Bilous said it is inappropriate to hold the privatization tender during Christmas holidays.
