KYIV. July 9 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has announced the development of a new customs terminal in Odesa region.
“As of today, the development of a new [customs] terminal with the unprecedented speed of customs clearance and without direct contact between entrepreneurs and clerks is in the pipeline. A new, transparent office of effective public services, which are provided by the state, will be introduced, and it will be high-quality and non-corrupt services,” he said at a meeting with regional governors and law enforcement agencies in Odesa on Wednesday.
KYIV. July 9 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Mykolaiv-based State Research & Design Shipbuilding Centre has started the development of its new project, the Kentavr [Centaur] armored fast assault craft for a foreign customer.
According to Interfax-Ukraine defense sources the preparation of new the Kentavr project, which is a development of the production line of the small armored artillery crafts Gurza and Gurza-M, was ensured by the April contract with Ukrspecexport state enterprise. The details of cooperation and name of the foreign customer haven’t been revealed.
According to the manufacturer, in contrast to the Gurza and Gurza-M, Kentavr has extended functions to execute special tasks and solve complicated tasks in sea and river water zones through combat or by transporting 32 assault troopers.
“In prospect, the possibility of realizing Kentavr project as a part of international cooperation both on Ukraine’s capacity and abroad at the interest of Ukrainian Navy isn’t left out,” the source said.
Manufacturing of Gurza-M boats, as ordered by the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, is carried out by Kyiv-based Leninska Kuznia PJSC. The boat’s full load displacement is 50,7 tonnes, its length is 23 meters, its width is 4.8 meters and its draught is one meter. The boat’s maximum speed is 25 kts, its cruise speed range is 700 miles, and its endurance is a maximum of five days. The boat has two remote controlled BM-5M.01 fight modules made by Mykolaiv Repair Mechanic Plants, an optoelectronic fire control system and a set of portable anti-aircraft weapon systems.
According to information made public by the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, by the end of 2015, the Ukrainian Navy will be reinforced with two Gurza-M boats, and by 2020 – with 18 boats.
KYIV. July 9 (Interfax-Ukraine) – In 2014 and the first half of 2015, Kyiv authorities attracted UAH 1.5 billion in investment, Kyiv City State Administration’s press service reported on Thursday with reference to Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko.
“If in 2013 the capital drew UAH 318 million in investment, investment in 2014 and the first half of 2015 hit UAH 1.5 billion,” Klitschko said.
He stressed that in order to improve the investment climate in Kyiv, the terms for the approval of investment projects had been shortened by five times.
“Today, all regulatory issues take no more than 90 days, whereas it was 1.5 years before,” he said.
He also said that potential investors are able to bid in public online tenders in Kyiv.
“This is a revolutionary step for Ukraine to real transparency, which leaves no room for corruption,” Klitschko said.
As reported, with reference to Deputy Director General of the Kyiv Investment Agency (KIA) Vitaliy Boiko, KIA had implemented investment projects worth about UAH 1 billion by the end of April 2015.
As of April 22, 2015, KIA had been developing about 70 investment projects worth about $1 billion, he said.
KYIV. July 9 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Ukrainian banks participating in the state program for partial compensation of the cost of loans for thermo modernization and measures to improve energy efficiency in the housing sector have since the beginning of its implementation in the past year, and as of July 6, 2015, issued 7,400 loans totaling more than UAH 130 million.
According to the State Agency on Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving, with reference to its head Serhiy Savchuk, out of the said volume from June 8 to July 6 loans worth UAH 60 million have been issued.
“The figure we have received this month shows that we are moving in the right direction,” he said.
He said that the total compensation for loans issued since the beginning of the implementation of the program by July 7, 2015 was UAH 8.7 million.
As reported, with reference to the agency, on June 22, 2015 Ukraine resumed compensation payments for loans to individuals for the purchase of boilers using alternative fuel, with UAH 6.3 million being allocated from the national budget for this policy.
BRUSSELS. July 9 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The European Commission (EC) has started the process of transferring EUR 600 million out of the third EUR1.8 billion macro-financial assistance package to Ukraine.
According to the press service of the European Commission, the money will be issued to Kyiv as a loan.
The funds will be provided on the basis of the memorandum of understanding and the loan agreement signed at the Eastern Partnership summit in Riga on May 22.
The third program of assistance to Ukraine will consist of three tranches, the last of which is expected in early 2016.
KYIV. July 8 (Interfax-Ukraine) — Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko has invited French businessmen to develop their business in the Ukrainian capital, the mayor’s press service said.
“We’re doing our best to ensure that private investors come to Kyiv and develop a successful business, as these are jobs and taxes the city needs. Your presence here means further intention to work in Ukraine. There are good opportunities for investment today. The market is semi-vacant in many segments. Therefore I urge you to invest in Kyiv, as at the very moment it’s time to seize the opportunity,” Klitschko said at a meeting with French Minister of State for Foreign Trade, the Promotion of Tourism and French Nationals Abroad Matthias Fekl and a group of French businessmen who work in Ukraine.
Klitschko said that Kyiv is interested in projects for energy efficiency, transport, municipal infrastructure (construction of roads, highways, and bridges), the mayor’s press service reported.
According to Klitschko, the municipal authorities are also interested in the development of Ukrainian-French relations and deepening of cultural and economic ties.
Fekl in turn said that France is committed to further joint work with Germany in the Normandy format for the complete implementation of the Minsk ceasefire agreements.
He assured the Kyiv mayor that France supports Ukraine on its way of economic and political reforms.
