Jiji, a Ukrainian IT company and spin-off of the Genesis holding group—which is the largest owner of classifieds platforms (similar to OLX) in Africa—has announced the acquisition of Bikroy, the largest such platform in Bangladesh.
“We are continuing our work—with the acquisition of the largest classifieds platform in Bangladesh, a country with a population of 175 million, we have every chance of becoming the largest classifieds platform in emerging markets,” said company co-founder Volodymyr Mnoholetniy on Facebook.
According to him, the company previously acquired the OLX and Cars45 businesses in Africa, as well as the company Tonaton.
The product-focused IT company Jiji was founded jointly with entrepreneur Anton Volyansky in 2014 as part of the Genesis ecosystem. By 2023, the marketplace had become profitable, and in 2025, the company paid out its first dividends.
“This shows that it is possible and necessary to invest in valuable long-term stories over a horizon of many years—and that’s normal,” the company’s co-founder emphasized.
According to him, Jiji is now the leader in markets with a combined population of over 500 million people. Among other things, it is Africa’s largest classifieds platform for cars, real estate, and electronics.
“Millions of people use Jiji every month. More than 50% of the population in the countries where we operate are familiar with the Jiji brand,” Mnozheletny noted.
The Bikroy marketplace was founded in 2012. The platform specializes in a wide range of classified ads—from cars, real estate, electronics, clothing, and home goods to job listings and services.
The results of a survey conducted in March 2026 by the research company Active Group in collaboration with the Experts Club information and analytical center showed that perceptions of Bangladesh in Ukrainian society are characterized by a predominance of neutral assessments and a relatively low level of both positive and negative attitudes. At the same time, compared to the previous survey, there has been a gradual increase in both positive and negative assessments, indicating a certain intensification of perceptions of this country.
The overall share of positive attitudes stands at 13.0% (specifically, 4.4% “completely positive” and 8.6% “mostly positive”). This is a relatively low figure, indicating a limited level of emotional engagement among Ukrainians regarding Bangladesh. At the same time, the trend shows an increase in positive attitudes—from 9.7% to 13.1%—which may indicate a gradual expansion of the country’s informational or economic presence in Ukrainian perceptions.
Negative assessments also show an increase—from 7.7% to 9.6%. In terms of composition, they consist of 7.7% “mostly negative” and 1.9% “completely negative” attitudes. Although these figures remain relatively low, their trend indicates the emergence of a more defined, albeit still limited, negative backdrop.
At the same time, a key characteristic of attitudes toward Bangladesh is the high level of neutrality—71.6%. This is one of the highest figures among the countries surveyed, indicating low awareness or a lack of clear associations. In practical terms, this means that for most Ukrainians, Bangladesh is not a country associated with significant political, economic, or cultural reference points.
Additionally, 5.8% of respondents were undecided, which, combined with the high proportion of neutral assessments, forms a significant segment of “undetermined perception.” This creates potential for future changes—both toward strengthening a positive image and toward an increase in critical attitudes, depending on the informational context.
In summary, Bangladesh remains a country with a minimally established image in the perception of Ukrainians. Despite a slight increase in both positive and negative assessments, neutrality is the defining factor. This means that the further evolution of attitudes will depend primarily on the country’s level of presence in the Ukrainian information space and the development of bilateral contacts.
According to a study conducted by the Experts Club information and analytical center based on data from the State Customs Service, Bangladesh ranks 48th in total trade volume with Ukraine, with a figure of $355.8 million. The bilateral trade balance is relatively close to equilibrium, but imports still slightly exceed exports, resulting in a small trade deficit of $26.9 million.
The study was presented at the Interfax-Ukraine press center; the video can be viewed on the agency’s YouTube channel. The full version of the study can be found at this link on the Experts Club analytical center’s website.
ACTIVE GROUP, BANGLADESH, EXPERTS CLUB, Pozniy, SOCIOLOGY, SURVEY, UKRAINE, URAKIN
The vast majority of Ukrainians do not have a clearly formed attitude towards Bangladesh. This is evidenced by the results of a sociological survey conducted by Active Group in cooperation with the Experts Club analytical center.
According to the data, 72.3% of respondents chose the “neutral attitude” option. 9.7% of respondents expressed a positive opinion (2.7% — completely positive, 7.0% — mostly positive). A negative attitude was declared by 7.7% of Ukrainians (1.0% — completely negative, 6.7% — mostly negative). At the same time, 10.3% responded that they did not have sufficient information about this country.
“For most Ukrainians, Bangladesh remains a relatively distant country about which there is a lack of information. This explains the high level of neutral responses,” said Alexander Pozniy, head of Active Group.
At the same time, Experts Club co-founder Maksim Urakin emphasized the importance of economic relations.
“According to the results of the first eight months of 2025, Ukraine’s trade turnover with Bangladesh amounted to $226.9 million. Exports from Ukraine reached $127.9 million, while imports amounted to $99.1 million. The positive balance of $28.8 million indicates balance and potential for expanding bilateral trade.”
Thus, despite Ukrainians’ lack of awareness about Bangladesh, economic cooperation is developing dynamically, creating the conditions for strengthening mutual interest.
The full video can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgC9TPnMoMI&t
You can subscribe to the Experts Club YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@ExpertsClub
ACTIVE GROUP, BANGLADESH, EXPERTS CLUB, Pozniy, SOCIOLOGY, TRADE, UKRAINE, УРАКИН
Lamella (Tyachiv, Zakarpattia region), a furniture manufacturing subsidiary 100% owned by Estonian Himbalt Trade, intends to hire 160 people from Bangladesh due to the acute need for workers after expanding its production capacity, said Myroslav Biletsky, head of the Zakarpattia Regional State Administration.
“We employ 430 people here (at the company), and due to the increase in production capacity, we have 700 jobs. The business, which has created all the conditions, purchased equipment and materials, is in dire need of employees and is looking for them abroad. For example, the company is negotiating with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to employ 160 people from the People’s Republic of Bangladesh under an employment contract,” he wrote on Facebook after visiting Lamella.
Biletsky added that in order to employ foreign workers, the company bought the hotel, refurbished it and equipped it to meet the needs of long-term stays.
He said that Lamella, which has been operating since 2001, has managed to grow from a small furniture parts manufacturing shop into a large manufacturer whose products are exported to Europe.
“They take care of employees here: free lunches, transportation to the place of work within a radius of 50 km, and the average salary is UAH 25 thousand,” said the head of the regional state administration.
“This is an important signal for Transcarpathians – our region is developing rapidly, we have plants and factories that need people. There is no need to go to European countries – decent wages and working conditions can be found at home,” Biletsky added.
According to him, in 2022-2024, Lamella paid more than UAH 182 million in taxes and fees to the budgets of all levels, including more than UAH 4.5 million in military duty.
Lamella specializes in the production of natural wood furniture (from solid wood to finished products) and, according to its website, is the largest manufacturer of such furniture in Zakarpattia.
Its clients include large retailers, international chains, online stores, and niche furniture boutiques in Europe. “Lamella is the official supplier of products for the Furniteco TM, a shipping company in the Baltic and Scandinavian countries.
According to the Clarity Project, in 2023, Lamella increased its net profit by 95.3% compared to 2022, to UAH 99.4 million, with a 10% increase in net income to UAH 639.3 million, and in January-September 2024, profit increased by 17% compared to the same period in 2023, to UAH 92.3 million, with a 31% increase in revenue to UAH 626.2 million.
The ultimate beneficiary of Himbalt Trade LLC is Eduard Ovcharov, a resident of Estonia.
Himbalt Trade is a trading company specializing in the supply of petroleum products, petrochemicals and chemicals worldwide.
Ports of “Big Odessa” on Saturday and Sunday in the framework of the “Grain Initiative” sent 432 thousand tons of agricultural products in a caravan of nine ships to Africa, Asia and Europe, the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine said.
“In particular, bulk carrier Honorine with 27.5 thousand tons of Ukrainian grain for Tunisia and bulk carrier Velvet with 57 thousand tons of wheat for Bangladesh,” the ministry noted.
The Ministry pointed out that 19 ships are being processed in the ports involved in the “grain initiative”, 630 thousand tons of Ukrainian agricultural products are being loaded on them.
At the same time, 94 ships are waiting for their turn to be inspected by the SKZ in the Bosporus (69 ships are empty for loading, and 25 are already loaded with agricultural products).
“The Russian side in the JCC is systematically slowing down inspections. Vessels wait more than a month on average. At the same time, the bulk carrier T-Med with wheat on board has been waiting for inspection since the beginning of November last year,” the Ministry of Infrastructure noted.
According to its information, at least 12 inspections per day are required for uninterrupted movement in the grain corridor.
A total of 620 vessels have left the ports of Greater Odessa since August 1, exporting 16.5 million tons of Ukrainian foodstuffs to Asia, Europe and Africa.
Kyiv-based producer of blood-derived products Biopharma is to boost exports by 60% in August 2018 year-over-year, to UAH 130 million. Exports in August will be 40% higher than the monthly average indicator during the year, the company’s press service said. In August 2018, the company will ship, in addition to Ukraine, to markets of 10 countries, including Belarus, Kazakhstan, India, Colombia, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Middle East countries, as well as to Slovakia, Mongolia, and Bangladesh. It should be noted that Biopharma’s products will be delivered to Bangladesh and Colombia for the first time. The company’s plans include the expansion of its presence in the European markets.
Biopharma immunobiological pharmaceutical company is one of the ten largest Ukrainian producers of medicines. It produces more than 20 immunobiological preparations from donated blood, preparations obtained with the use of recombinant DNA technology and probiotics.
In 2015, the company invested $3.5 million in the reconstruction of Sumy region’s blood center, which currently accounts for 98.2% of donated blood in the region.
Biopharma plans to launch a plasma fractionation plant in 2018. The Biopharma Group of Companies includes LLC Biopharma Invest, LLC Biopharma Plasma Invest, LLC Biopharma Plasma, and LLC Fractionation Plant FZ Biopharma.
