Last year, Nova Poshta, the leader of express shipments in Ukraine, doubled the number of processed shipments in Moldova to almost 4 million, the company’s press service reports.
“4 million delivered shipments, 695,000 customers and 28.6 million lei ($5.8 million) in taxes are the results of Nova Poshta’s work in Moldova in 2024,” the press service said in a statement on Friday.
It is reported that in 2024, the company showed growth in all operational and financial indicators, increasing tax payments by 87% compared to 2023.
The number of shipments in Moldova increased by 26% to 778 thousand. The number of international shipments quadrupled compared to 2023 to 3 million.
The top countries from which most parcels arrived in Moldova are China, the USA, Romania and Ukraine. The top stores from which Nova Poshta customers made orders are Temu, Joom, Aliexpress, iHerb, Zapatos and MakeUp.
The press service reminded that last year, Nova Poshta was the first in Moldova to offer its customers a new format of service points – delivery points and still remains the only postal operator that provides such a service in the country. Thanks to this service, it can quickly deliver parcels to the most remote corners of the country, even to settlements without post offices or postal facilities.
The operation of the delivery points creates additional convenience for customers, as the parcel can be picked up near their homes or on the way to the office in a cafe. In 2024, 600 thousand parcels were delivered through delivery points, according to Nova Poshta. In total, there are 61 delivery points in Moldova.
For cooperation with Nova Poshta in the format of delivery points, its local partners received 3.3 million lei ($668.6 thousand) from the company in 2024.
Nova Poshta’s presence with a network of post offices in Moldova covers 20 cities in the country, including Briceni, Edinet, Ungheni, Balti, Comrat, Cahul, Orhei, Taraclia, Chadyr Lunga, Ialoveni, Hincesti, Caşani, Stefan Voda, Falesti, Soroca, Guma, Nisporeni, Leova, Novi Aneni. A number of them are located in the stores of the largest supermarket chains – Kaufland, Linella, Merci and Local. In total, there are 260 post offices.
The number of Nova Poshta stationary offices in Moldova has reached 31. The number of sorting terminals is three.
“Nova Poshta” has set a goal to ensure the accessibility of customers in Moldova. It also seeks to increase the speed of processing shipments and customer convenience, the press service emphasized.
“Nova Poshta has become a part of the everyday life of the people of Moldova. In 2024, we invested 26.8 million lei ($5.8 million) in the development of logistics and our own network, and created 228 new jobs in the country. Our services were used by 695,000 customers, compared to 424,000 last year,” the press service quoted the CEO of Nova Poshta in Moldova, Sergey Shapran, as saying.
According to him, the company plans to continue expanding its network and range of services in 2025. In particular, Nova Poshta will open a new sorting hub in Chisinau, where business customers will be able to use fulfillment services.
The number of service points is planned to double.
The delivery time for Nova Poshta parcels in Moldova is 1 day. Delivery to Ukraine and Romania is carried out within 3 days.
Mortality in Ukraine in 2024 exceeded the birth rate in 2.8 times, the leader in newborns was Kiev, the most deaths were registered in Dnipropetrovsk region.
This follows from the report of the Ministry of justice, published on the website.
In total last year was born 176679 children, registered death 495090 people.
The birth rate in Ukraine in 2024 is 5.8% less than in 2023 – then 187.3 thousand children were born.
The leaders in the number of newborns were: Kyiv – 19.7 thousand; Lviv region – 15.6 thousand; Dnipropetrovsk region – 14 thousand; Odessa region – 12.5 thousand; Kyiv region – 10.2 thousand.
Most deaths were registered in Dnipropetrovsk region (53268), followed by Kyiv (35528), Kharkiv region (34883), Odessa region (32147) and Kyiv region (29339).
Ukrainian restaurant chain Lviv Croissants has opened its first establishment in France in the city of Cannes, the franchise was acquired by local entrepreneurs who own a Michelin-starred French cuisine restaurant, according to its press release.
“For six months, our team did not just work on creating a good establishment, but thoroughly researched the French market and the food culture of the region to win the hearts of French foodies. We believe that our croissants will be a new gastronomic discovery for them. Everything else remains unchanged: traditional Lviv atmosphere, delicious quality coffee and high standards of service”, – noted Lviv Croissants franchising managers.
The first Lviv Croissants in France is located in the center of Cannes, on Rue d’Antibes. The establishment has 13 seats inside and another 24 on the summer terrace. The area of the venue is 70 m². The interior combines natural wooden elements, vegetal decoration and comfortable places for rest. The kitchen was made open so that visitors could see the process of croissants preparation.
The basis of Lviv Croissants menu in Cannes, as well as in the whole chain, is freshly baked croissants. Some fillings are developed taking into account preferences of French guests – local chefs were specially invited for this purpose. In total, there are more than 35 different fillings in the menu.
Lviv Croissants added that in time they plan to introduce croissant delivery from the new establishment in Cannes.
France has become the fifth country outside Ukraine, where Lviv Croissants operates. The chain also has facilities in Poland, Slovakia, Czech Republic and the USA. Lviv Croissants is planning to open new establishments of the chain.
Lviv Croissants is a Ukrainian international franchise restaurant chain founded in 2015. It specializes in making croissants. The brand entered the European market in September 2022. The first establishment opened in the Polish city of Zgorzelec. Now the chain has 180 establishments throughout Ukraine, 11 in Poland and 1 each in Slovakia, Czech Republic, France and USA.
It is a part of Fast Food Franchising Group. Fast Food Franchising Group LLC was founded in 2015 in Lviv.
The company’s net loss in 2023 amounted to UAH 598.3 thousand, compared to UAH 483 thousand net profit a year earlier. Last year’s income increased by 55.1%, to UAH 6.939 mln, debt obligations – by 9.7 times, to UAH 188.9 th, while assets decreased by 19%, to UAH 1.89 mln.
Beneficiaries of the company are PE Firma Infobud, which owns 50% of shares, Eugene and Andrei Galitsky (20% each), as well as Yuriy Zagrodsky (10%).
Alex Sobel has been appointed as the UK’s Trade Envoy to Ukraine, the British Embassy in Ukraine has announced.
“Alex Sobel, a member of the British Parliament, has been announced as the Trade Envoy to Ukraine. He will focus on identifying trade and investment opportunities for British businesses and promoting the UK as an attractive investment destination,” the embassy said on social media site X on Wednesday.
Sobel has been a member of the British parliament since 2024, a Labor Party member.
Source: https://interfax.com.ua
The Czech government is seeking support from other European Union countries for a new ammunition initiative after implementing a similar initiative in 2024, German N-TV reports.
“This is a matter of political will, and if many EU member states rejoin our initiative, we can achieve a lot for Ukraine,” Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky said in an interview with the German news network (RND).
“We are currently looking at how we can finance the new ammunition initiative, and then we will see how many rounds of ammunition we can get for this money,” the Czech foreign minister added.
As reported, Defense Minister Jana Černohová announced the second project to purchase ammunition for Ukraine under the working title Initiative 2025 back in July last year. Deník N reported at the time that five companies would participate in the project: Czechoslovak Group, STV Group, Omnipol with Ompo Holding, Colt CZ Group SE, owned by Česká zbrojovka, and the DSS arms company.
Under the previous Czech ammunition initiative, Ukraine was provided with approximately half a million pieces of artillery ammunition. A total of 18 countries joined the initiative.
Mezhyrychinsky GOK LLC (Irshansk, Zhytomyr region), a mining company and part of Group DF’s titanium business, has launched an enrichment plant to produce ilmenite concentrate (TiO2).
According to the company, the plant has reached its design capacity of 20-25 tons of ilmenite concentrate per hour, or 12-15 thousand tons per month.
“The team has managed to restore the enterprise’s performance, and the concentrator has been restarted after a downtime. We have restored the lost sales markets and business ties with partners: we have already signed good contracts with European partners and are working on their fulfillment. In addition, we are rebuilding our team,” said Dmitry Golik, director of Mezhirichny GOK.
According to him, the company’s launch was delayed, among other things, due to staffing problems caused by the mobilization of employees – today every eighth employee of Mezhirichny GOK serves in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Thanks to the efforts of its specialists, the company is once again becoming an international player, has restored all the broken logistics links and is operating efficiently, gradually increasing production volumes. This will benefit not only partners and businesses, but also local communities and the national budget. In addition, this is an important step towards increasing the country’s exports and strengthening the entire industry,” Golik emphasized.
The press release explains that the reopening of the concentrator was made possible thanks to the significant support of local government and local authorities. The launch made it possible to employ 100% of the staff and restore the previous level of salaries.
The GOK employs about 400 people, including 50 who serve in the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Mezhyrichensky GOK remains the mainstay of two towns in Zhytomyr region – Irshansk and Nova Borova and the united territorial communities of the same name.
In 2023, Mezhyrichny GOK mined only 500 thousand tons of ilmenite ore and produced 22.1 thousand tons of ilmenite concentrate. In 2024 (January-February), the company produced 520 thousand tons of ilmenite ore. The GOK’s production capacity is capable of mining 4 million tons of ilmenite ore per year and producing 180 thousand tons of ilmenite concentrate per year.
Mezhyrichensky GOK consists of two complexes: an ilmenite ore mining/blister concentrate production facility and an enrichment plant that produces ilmenite concentrate. The company’s main product is titanium dioxide (sulfate ilmenite concentrate) and operates exclusively in the chemical titanium segment, which cannot be used in the military and industrial industry due to its chemical properties. It is a raw material for the production of pigments used in the paint and varnish industry, paper, plastics and construction materials.
“Our strategic plan is to reach pre-war production capacity, but everything will depend on the global price environment. The European economy is recovering, so we expect an increase in consumption of ilmenite concentrate. Positive signals are now emerging for global players. After the war, the global market will recover from the recession even faster in 2025-2026 and grow faster. This will definitely have a positive impact on our business,” the CEO emphasized.
Earlier, Group DF’s press service reported that the forced shutdown and almost a year of downtime at the plant in 2023-2024 were due to the illegal decision of the State Service of Geology and Subsoil of Ukraine (Derzhgeonadr) No. 178 of March 27, 2023. At that time, the State Service of Geology and Subsoil issued an order to suspend the special permit, citing the new law on subsoil use. Subsequently, Group DF’s lawyers managed to appeal this decision and prove its illegality.
On November 16, 2023, pursuant to the decision of the Zhytomyr District Administrative Court of July 27, 2023 and the decision of the Seventh Administrative Court of Appeal of November 7, 2023, the State Service of Geology and Mineral Resources renewed the license. The restart of the factory became possible after the renewal of the special permit for subsoil use No. 2694 (Order of the State Service of Geology and Mineral Resources No. 591 of November 16, 2023).
In 2022, local taxes and paid rent for subsoil use amounted to over UAH 185 million. In 2023, due to the forced downtime, this figure decreased to UAH 85 million, and the staff was transferred to 2/3 of the previous salary level. In 2024, the company paid UAH 78 million in taxes at various levels.
As a result of a number of illegal decisions and the company’s downtime, the company estimates the damage caused to the state at least UAH 126 million.
In 2017-2019, Group DF invested over $7 million in the enrichment plant at Mezhirichny GOK, and the plant was commissioned in early 2019.
Group DF’s titanium mining business comprises two operating mining and processing plants – Mezhirichinsky GOK and Valky Ilmenite (both in Zhytomyr region) and two plants under construction – Stremigorodsky GOK (Zhytomyr region) and Motronovsky GOK (Dnipropetrovs’k region). The maximum design capacity of Mezhyrichny GOK is 180 thousand tons of ilmenite concentrate per year, while Valky Ilmenite’s capacity is 65 thousand tons.
