KYIV. Nov 28 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Ukraine and China are preparing to expand cooperation in the space sector, updated cooperation plans were outlined in a new version of the program of bilateral cooperation in the space sector until 2020, which has been recently adopted in Beijing.
The updated version of the program of bilateral cooperation in the space sector for 2016-2020 was approved during a session of the working group and the 4th meeting of the Sub-Commission on Cooperation in Space Sector of the Ukrainian-Chinese Intergovernmental Commission, the Ukrainian State Space Agency’s press service reported.
“During the meeting, the interim results of the implementation in 2017 of the program of Ukrainian-Chinese cooperation in the field of space for 2016-2020 were summed up, the Protocol was signed and the updated version of the program was adopted, the sides noted the development of positive dynamics of cooperation in the space sector between the two countries, and outlined cooperation areas in the medium and long term,” the report says.
New areas of cooperation included in the updated version of the program are confidential and are not open to public, the press service of the space agency specified to the agency Interfax-Ukraine.
China is among long and prospective partners of Ukraine in the space sector.
As reported, Ukraine and China approved a long-term program of cooperation in the space sector for the period of 2016-2020 during a previous meeting of the subcommittee on cooperation in the space sector of the Ukrainian-Chinese intergovernmental commission in Kyiv on April 7, 2016. The document provides for the joint implementation of more than 70 projects. Most of them envisage the creation of rocket and space technologies, taking into account China’s implementing the Lunar Exploration Program and a mission to study the planets of the solar system, as well as cooperation in the field of creating new materials and Earth remote sensing.
KYIV. Nov 28 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Rentkom LLC (Lviv) has commissioned the first stage of an elevator for 30,000 tonnes in the village of Dzvyniach (Ternopil region), according to the website of Ternopil Regional State Administration.
According to the report, investments in the launch of the first stage of the elevator amounted to about EUR5 million.
The launch of the second stage with the capacity of 60,000 tonnes is scheduled for 2019.
The construction of the facility began in May 2016. Its planned capacity is 90,000 tonnes of grain.
“The total cost of the complex construction is UAH 300 million (EUR10 million), the cost of the first stage of the complex is UAH 150 million (EUR5 million). The construction is carried out at the expense of Rentkom,” the regional administration said.
The elevator complex was created for purchase, storage and subsequent processing of oilseeds at the enterprises of Rentkom located in the village of Dzvyniach in Ternopil region and Lviv.
In future it is planned to build a plant for processing oilseeds (soybeans, rapeseeds, sunflower) with a capacity of 15,000 tonnes per month (180,000 tonnes per year) in the territory of Dzvyniach village council.
KYIV. Nov 28 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Kernel, one of the largest Ukrainian agrarian groups, forecasts EBITDA in the 2018 financial year (FY, July 2017-June 2018) at a level of no lower than $210 million.
“We expect EBITDA in the 2018 financial year to exceed $210 million, but it will be below $250 million,” member of the company’s board of directors Yuriy Kovalchuk said.
Kernel posted $319 million EBITDA in the 2017 FY.
Kovalchuk noted that in the 2018 FY the company plans to process 3.2 million tonnes of sunflower. The processing capacities of the agricultural holding are estimated at 3.5 million tonnes.
Due to a lower capacity load, Kernel expects a 15% decrease in EBITDA in the grain infrastructure segment in the 2018 FY. In 2017 revenues in this segment reached $110 million.
According to Kovalchuk, EBITDA in the agricultural segment in 2018 could reach $85 million against $144 million a year earlier.
Kernel Financial Director Anastasia Usacheva estimated the current level of the company’s debt as “satisfactory.”
She noted that the peak demand for the working capital of the group and, consequently, the maximum level of debt will be in December, and then it will be gradually decreasing.
KYIV. Nov 28 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe emphasizes his country’s devotion to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine and confirmed the decision of Japan to introduce a simplified visa regime for Ukrainians from January 1, 2018.
Prime Minister of Japan sent a letter to President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko to thank for his congratulations on the victory in the Japanese parliamentary elections on October 22, 2017, which was reported by the president’s press service on Monday, November 27. “Japan is a friend of Ukraine and a partner that shares fundamental values. The government of Japan intends to continue supporting Ukraine in carrying out reforms and highly appreciates your leadership skills,” reads the letter.
Abe reiterated the willingness to work closely for the development of Ukrainian-Japanese relations “with the aim of consolidating efforts to respond to global and regional challenges.”
He also noted the successful implementation of the initiatives by the leaders of Japan and Ukraine on holding “Year of Japan in Ukraine” on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
KYIV. Nov 27 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Ukroliya LLC (Poltava region) has invested about UAH 50 million in the new Ukroliya Organic plant for production of organic oil in the settlement of Dykanka in Poltava region, the company’s press service has told Interfax-Ukraine.
“About UAH 50 million is the volume that we are claiming. Part of the funds are loans from Ukreximbank and ProCredit Bank, and part are our own funds,” the company said.
According to a press release from Ukroliya, this is the first certified plant in Ukraine for production of organic oil.
“Our plant will become the first producer of oil in Ukraine certified in accordance with the European organic standards. Organic Standard carried out certification, which demonstrates the recognition of the compliance of our products with the strict standards applied to organic products in Europe,” Ukroliya Organic chief technologist Serhiy Kosvintsev said.
The company plans to process 18,000 tonnes of sunflower, 50,000 tonnes of soybeans, produce 7,020 tonnes of organic sunflower oil, 6,750 tonnes of organic soybean oil, 7,100 tonnes of cake, and 3,000 tonnes of sunflower husk per year.
Ukroliya was founded in 2001. It owns a production complex for processing sunflower seeds in Poltava region.
KYIV. Nov 27 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Infrastructure construction projects may become a driver for development of commercial real estate in Ukraine in 2018, if they are subject to support by government-funded programs, if international investors are attracted, in particular the World Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Investment Bank (EIB).
Director of the investment and projects department of Lviv City Council Olha Syvak said at a press briefing in Kyiv on Thursday, several infrastructure projects are already awaiting financing from European investors.
“Lviv has submitted two large investment applications to the European Investment Bank. The documents have been ‘hanging” for a year and a half. We communicate directly with Luxembourg bankers, they say: there are packages for Ukraine, there is an infrastructure project for the development of cities worth EUR 400 million, there is a credit line, while the government does not make any moves to take this money,” Syvak said.
She also said that if the government of Ukraine shows interest in the issue, the country can receive significant financing for infrastructure projects in the short term.
At the same time, Head of DLA Piper real estate practice in Ukraine Natalia Kocherhina said that while banks expect the reaction from the Ukrainian government, private investors are already investing in industrial, especially in the port infrastructure.
She said that the development of this industry can give impetus to commercial real estate.
