The start of construction of the Horonda Platform innovative logistics center in Zakarpattia, a joint project of an Italian consortium led by FS Group (Italian State Railways) and Ukraine’s NSV Group, is scheduled for June 2024, the NSV Group press service told Interfax-Ukraine.
NSV Group Managing Partner Mykola Shapovalov said that following a meeting between NSV Group representatives on April 10 and Italian Business Minister Adolfo Urso, a number of decisions were made that will significantly affect the development of the project. In particular, it was decided to submit an application from NSV Group with the support of FS Group (Italian Railways) in accordance with the law on “investment nannies”. The start date of construction work has been specified – June 2024.
“The land has been formalized and the technical specifications have been obtained. The necessary measures to obtain a permit for “preparatory work” are being finalized, and we expect the start in June. Design surveys are nearing completion,” Shapovalov said.
Among the promising new initiatives discussed during the meeting was the creation of an Italian village next to Horonda Platform.
“We are pleased with the results of the meeting. We are confident that the joint efforts of Ukrainian and Italian partners will contribute to the creation of an innovative logistics center that will become not only a symbol of cooperation between the two countries, but also a crucial factor in the development of both economies. We believe that we will be able to attract even more Italian businessmen to participate in the creation of the industrial park. We are looking forward to the start of construction and are proud to contribute to the development of Ukraine’s logistics sector, and thus to the country’s recovery after the victory,” Shapovalov summarized.
As reported, the Horonda Platform project in the village of Horonda, Mukachevo district, Zakarpattia region, covers 13 hectares of dry port, 35 hectares of industrial park, and a silo with a capacity of 50 thousand tons. At the first stage of the project, two European and two Ukrainian railway lines of 1 km each are planned. It also provides for the possibility of expansion and a significant increase in capacity.
On Saturday, the U.S. House of Representatives (the lower house of the U.S. Congress) supported a bill to provide assistance to Ukraine. There were 311 votes in favor.
Next, the bill will be submitted to the upper house of the U.S. parliament, the Senate.
After that, it will be sent to the US President for signature. Once signed by the president, it will come into force.
The bill approved by the House of Representatives provides for the allocation of almost $61 billion for purposes related to support for Ukraine. Of this amount, $23.2 billion is intended to replenish the US arms stockpile.
Earlier it was reported that US President Joe Biden had a phone conversation with four congressional leaders, during which he emphasized the “urgent need” for the House of Representatives to pass a bill to help Israel and Ukraine.
In February, the Senate approved a $95 billion emergency spending package, including $60 billion to support Ukraine, as well as funds for Israel, Taiwan, and humanitarian aid to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
However, Republicans in the House of Representatives called for dividing aid to Israel, Ukraine, and other US allies. On April 1, House Speaker Mike Johnson said that the bill to support Ukraine would include “some important innovations,” possibly providing aid on credit.
April 15 Mike Johnson introduces four separate bills to fund US aid to Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, and other national security priorities.
Malt producer Slavutsky Malt Plant PJSC (Krupets, Khmelnytsky region), a member of the international agro-industrial group Soufflet, increased its net profit by 4 times in 2023 compared to 2022 – up to UAH 388.57 million.
According to the company’s report in the information disclosure system of the National Securities and Stock Market Commission (NSSMC), its revenue for the year increased by 15.3% to UAH 1.671 billion, assets – by 3.7 times to UAH 1.073 billion, and total debt obligations decreased by 2.7 times to UAH 128.915 million.
At the same time, the company increased the number of employees by five to 83.
According to the report, at the annual shareholders’ meeting on April 19, shareholders will be proposed to use the profit to develop the company and replenish working capital, and not to accrue or pay dividends based on the results of financial and economic activities for 2023.
Slavuta Malt Plant is owned by International Malt Company JSC, which was founded by Compaginie Internationale de Malteries (France), a company created by the merger of Soufflet Group and the French agricultural cooperative Invivo.
Soufflet Group, one of the world’s largest malt producers, has 28 malt plants in Europe, Asia and South America. The company is the largest flour producer in France, produces bread and confectionery in France and Portugal, and operates on the international grain market through its trading division Soufflet Negoce.
Trypillia Packaging Plant (TUP, Ukrainka, Kyiv region), a subsidiary of the shutdown Rubizhne Cardboard and Packaging Plant in Luhansk region, increased corrugated packaging output by 20.8% in January-March compared to the same period in 2023, to 39.4 million square meters.
According to statistics provided to Interfax-Ukraine by UkrPapir Association, the mill accelerated the growth rate of corrugated packaging output compared to the same period last year – in January it was 5% compared to January 2023, and 12.3% in January-February.
The plant consistently ranks second in corrugated packaging production after Kyiv Cardboard and Paper Mill (52.9 million square meters).
In March, TUK increased its corrugated packaging production by 41% year-on-year and by 7% year-on-year to 13.6 million square meters.
In monetary terms, TUK’s production volume in the first quarter of 2014 increased by 5% to UAH 651.6 million.
In January-March, the major companies in the industry that provided data to UkrPapir increased production of cardboard boxes by 17.8%, to 136 million square meters, according to the association.
As reported, before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Rubizhne Pulp and Paper Mill together with TUK were the leading corrugated packaging producers in Ukraine.
After the destruction, the plant in Rubizhne shut down, and the legal entity Rubizhne CTC was re-registered in Kyiv.
TUC produces a wide range of corrugated cardboard products for food, industrial goods and chemicals. Among its customers are Roshen, Coca-Cola, MHP agricultural holding, and Lactalis Group.
In 2023, Trypillia Paper Mill increased its sales volume by 13.7% compared to 2022, to UAH 2 billion 480 million, while corrugated packaging production increased by 17.9% to 145.8 million square meters.
Insurance companies-members of the Motor (Transport) Insurance Bureau of Ukraine (MTSBU) in January-March 2024 concluded 1.7 million contracts of compulsory civil liability insurance of owners of land vehicles (CMTPL), which is 5.02% more than in the same period of 2023.
According to data released on the MTSBU website, 74% or 1.2 million contracts were concluded electronically, 20% more than in January-March last year.
Members of the Bureau for the three months of 2024 increased the collection of insurance payments under CMTPL insurance policies by 26.2% compared to the comparable period of 2023 – up to UAH 2.1 billion, including UAH 1.673 billion (+41.12%) under electronic contracts.
The amount of the average insurance premium under MTPL contracts is UAH 1,262.8 (+20.1% compared to the same period of 2023).
The total amount of accrued insurance indemnities under domestic insurance contracts has increased by 31,16% – up to UAH 1,18 billion, including UAH 237,9 million paid using “europrotocol” (+17,34%).
The Bureau also recorded an increase in the number of settled claims for insurance compensation by 17.95% – up to 36.6 thousand, including data on the use of “Europrotocol” -13,206 thousand (+3.94%).
The average amount of insurance indemnity for claims of victims in Q1 2024 is UAH 32,270 thousand, which is by 11,2% more than in the same period of 2023 (UAH 29,019 thousand).
The ITSBU is the only association of insurers in Ukraine, carrying out compulsory insurance of civil liability of owners of inland motor vehicles for damage caused to third parties. 33 insurance companies are members of the Bureau.
The number of registered unemployed people increased by 7.9% to 118.5 thousand in March, mainly due to the increase in the number of unemployed women for the fourth month in a row, including last month – by 7.6 thousand to 91.9 thousand.
According to the data of the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU), released on Friday, the number of unemployed also increased among people under 35 years old – by 2.3 thousand, up to 27.1 thousand.
It is specified that such a trend has lasted since January 2024.
As in the previous month, the largest number of unemployed citizens was recorded in the following regions: Zaporizhzhya (8.9 thousand), Kharkiv (8.6 thousand), Dnipropetrovsk (8.4 thousand), Sumy (7.3 thousand) and Poltava (6.4 thousand).
According to the central bank, the number of unemployed receiving benefits increased from 46.6 thousand to 51.2 thousand, while the number of vacancies also increased to 44.5 thousand from 41 thousand in February.
More details on macroeconomic indicators of Ukraine and the world, GDP of major countries and other economic topics were discussed in one of the video analysis of Experts club analytical center – https://youtu.be/w5fF_GYyrIc?si=Ymo-FlMFNGfLLdK-.
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