Biosphere Corporation, one of Ukraine’s largest household goods companies, has re-launched its business in Uzbekistan, according to the company’s Facebook page.
“Even in these difficult times, when many companies face challenges that seem insurmountable, Biosphere continues to step forward with confidence… Today we are sharing extremely important news: after a long pause, we have re-launched our business in Uzbekistan,” the statement reads.
According to the company, it has been only a week since the first shipment, but the eight largest regions of Uzbekistan have already been covered.
“We are expanding our presence in Central Asia to make Biosphere’s business even more sustainable and reliable. Geographical diversification is our strategic decision to ensure stability and prosperity in an ever-changing world,” the statement said.
According to Biosphere’s website, it began exporting its products to Uzbekistan in 2020.
In June 2022, in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine, the owner and CEO of the corporation, Andriy Zdesenko, spoke about the presence of large orders in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, but noted the existence of logistical and other problems with the supply of products.
Biosphere Corporation has been operating in Ukraine for over 20 years. Its products are represented in the markets of 30 countries in Europe and Asia. The product portfolio includes more than 2 thousand items under 13 trademarks: Freken BOK, Smile, Selpak, Vortex, Novita, PRO service, and LaiKit.
The corporation’s capacities are represented by four plants with a total production area of 35 thousand square meters in Dnipropetrovska, Kyivska and Khmelnytska regions, as well as logistics complexes with an area of 30 thousand square meters. Together with the French Groupe Lemoine, Biosphere also owns a plant in Estonia for the production of cotton products with an area of 8.5 thousand square meters.
JSC OTP BANK and the European Business Association (EBA) in partnership held an offline event for Ukrainian export-oriented companies, as well as all business representatives interested in export opportunities.
“Exporters: Talk & Network” became a platform for discussing the challenges faced by companies in international markets, as well as finding ways to expand exports of Ukrainian goods and services.
In particular, Volodymyr Mudryi, Chairman of the Board of OTP Bank, mentioned programs from international organizations as opportunities for exporters. In his speech, he emphasized that the Bank’s mission today is to build a bridge between global companies and donors represented in Ukraine.
“In order to work in our country, all international organizations need a responsible and reliable partner with a history and a good reputation. Someone with whom you can speak the same language. So, for global companies, we act as a kind of “translator” of the needs that exist in our market. This is one of our missions,” said Mr. Mudryi. He emphasized that OTP Bank was among the first to start cooperation with the EBRD, and now it also has extensive programs with IFC. “In addition, within the framework of cooperation with the USAID Project “Investments for Business Sustainability”, we have closed one program of co-financing for MSMEs on preferential terms ahead of schedule, and recently received the second tranche to support business,” the banker emphasized.
However, in addition to global instruments such as programs with international companies, the Bank also supports exporters in their daily work. According to V. Mudryi, OTP BANK has developed profitable and customized services and products – a separate module “Currency Contracts” in the Click OTPay client-bank system, which has complete information on the status of settlements under export and import contracts, currency SWAP, lending, the “Trading Platform” service, which gives the client the opportunity to fix the exchange rate from 1 cent, and also provides access to the exchange of exotic currencies. “We try to optimize and personalize the work with the Bank for our clients as much as possible, to make it as convenient as possible. To this end, we have set up many processes: for example, any new contract must be processed and confirmed by the Bank on the same day,” said Mr. Mudry.
During the event, he advised entrepreneurs to expand their knowledge of ESG (environmental, social, corporate governance) sustainability standards, which are increasingly required by international organizations from Ukrainian businesses. “It is inevitable and it is already knocking on our door. There are requirements from the EBRD, the World Bank, and the National Bank of Ukraine is also planning to develop its own standards. So now, at the level of the NABU (Independent Association of Banks of Ukraine), we are trying to bring together all the requirements so that there is a common understanding of what we will implement, as well as to develop a schedule for the transition to ESG standards,” said Mr. Mudryi.
Yulia Vitka, Deputy Project Manager, spoke about various programs for exporters and SMEs and the opportunities of the USAID Investment for Business Sustainability Project. Ruslan Gashev, Chairman of the Board of Export Credit Agency, presented ECA’s experience and outlined changes in the Agency’s work that allowed it to expand cooperation with business representatives.
“Exporters: Talk & Network: tools to support export-oriented companies” was the third offline event for exporters that OTP BANK and the European Business Association held in partnership. Previous meetings with business took place in the summer and spring of 2024.
JSC OTP BANK has signed its first loan agreement with a Ukrainian company to finance distributed generation. Support in the amount of UAH 16.6 million for the purchase of a cogeneration gas piston unit will be provided toAVIS LLC.
“The issue of electricity supply is extremely important for the economy, for business and for every citizen. The Bank has set itself the goal of stimulating the development of the market for energy-independent solutions. We are ready to offer our customers the best deals and favourable conditions that will guarantee uninterrupted operation in the face of electricity shortages,” said Olga Volkova, Director of the Sales Department for Medium and Small Corporate Clients of OTP Bank.
The agreement is a concrete step by the Bank to implement the Memorandum on lending to energy infrastructure restoration projects. The document defines the strategic direction of the credit policy for financing investment energy projects. Assistance is provided for the construction and purchase of solar, wind, biogas, gas turbine and gas piston power plants, industrial batteries, and cogeneration units.
With the financial support of the Bank, a company that produces a wide range of food products will be able to purchase a Jenbacher JMS 320 GS-N.L. gas piston cogeneration unit with a capacity of 1,066 kW. The installation of such a unit will provide the company with maximum independence from the power grid and improve its economic efficiency. The equipment is beneficial because natural gas is an affordable fuel. In addition, it is a good investment in the future, as this modern technology does not have a negative impact on the environment.
As a reminder, on 25 June 2024, JSC OTP BANK and leading banks signed a Memorandum on lending to energy infrastructure restoration projects. Representatives of 17 financial institutions signed the document.
Despite the full-scale war, Ukrainian business continues to demonstrate high dynamics in obtaining the status of Authorized Economic Operators (AEO): over the 4 years of the program, 48 Ukrainian companies have received 50 AEO authorizations. This status gives companies the highest degree of trust and a number of simplifications in customs procedures.
This dynamics of Ukrainian companies coincides with the dynamics of most EU countries in the first 4 years of the program, and sometimes exceeds it. The biggest “jump” in AEOs occurred in the fourth year of the program, when “local simplifications” without authorizations were abolished, which was not the case in any EU country.
For comparison, the dynamics of AEO for the first 4 years of the program in the EU (2008-2011):
– more than half of the countries (17 Member States) had similar (Denmark, Ireland, Slovenia, Czech Republic) or lower (Finland, Romania, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Greece, etc.) rates of increase in AEO authorizations;
– 8 countries had a higher rate of increase in AEO authorizations, in particular, the United Kingdom*, Austria, Belgium, and Sweden;
– only 3 countries out of 28 EU countries (France, Germany, the Netherlands) increased AEOs at a much higher rate than Ukraine. These countries generally have much stricter requirements for companies to preserve and restore documents and other business processes, the reliability of which is a condition for obtaining this status. Therefore, the authorization of enterprises did not require a large number of additional requirements.
Currently, there is every reason to expect a positive trend in the number of AEO authorizations obtained by Ukrainian businesses: 31 more applications are pending at the State Customs Service. This demonstrates the interest of domestic businesses in the program.
It is worth reminding that AEO is a special status that demonstrates a high level of trust in a business entity. It provides customs simplifications and advantages in international trade, which can also compensate for a number of difficulties at the border caused by external circumstances. The AEO status opens up opportunities for enterprises to develop and compete in foreign and domestic markets.
In Ukraine, the AEO program began operating in August 2020 after the adoption of the necessary legislative changes in the process of approximation to European customs law and standards of foreign economic activity.
As reported, as of November 7, 2023, the provisions of the Customs Code of Ukraine regarding the possibility of customs clearance of goods without presenting them to the customs authorities became invalid. In order to continue to use the possibility of clearing goods at the facilities of enterprises, the State Customs Service recommended that businesses obtain the status of an authorized economic operator.
Having AEO authorization allows a company to take advantage of all the benefits of AEO and will facilitate access to the simplifications provided for by the Customs Code and the Convention on a Common Transit Procedure. In particular, the simplifications include reducing the level of risk in relation to the goods being transported, prioritizing customs formalities and releasing goods at the company’s location.
Earlier, roundtables were devoted to customs reform, where the event’s organizer and moderator Maksim Urakin stated that the State Customs Service provides 35-40% of state budget revenues, and these figures have remained stable in recent years. That is why customs reforms are so important for the country.
JSC “OTP BANK” offers Ukrainian enterprises a number of loan programs that will allow them to become energy independent and ensure uninterrupted business operation in the face of electricity shortages. This was stated by Valeriy Terno, Head of Sales to Medium Corporate Clients at OTP Bank, during a roundtable discussion on energy independence organized by the Financial Club.
“The bank has set itself the goal of stimulating the development of the market for energy-independent solutions and providing support to businesses in financing such projects. We prepare optimal offers and favorable conditions for each client. We are talking about low interest rates and the possibility of implementing them under government programs, as well as cashback, and with additional guarantees from the state, the EBRD, and other institutional investors, we will be able to further expand the decision-making criteria for implementing certain projects. We already have successful cases in this direction,” said Mr. Terno.
In particular, small and medium-sized businesses can count on financial support from OTP Bank under the program “Affordable Loans 5-7-9%”, which is being implemented by the government at the initiative of the President of Ukraine through the Entrepreneurship Development Fund.
Also, the joint program with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development allows us to offer investment loans to SMEs with the possibility of compensating part of the costs financed by the Bank’s credit funds. This loan can be used for long-term investments in green technologies (energy-efficient equipment, solar panels for power plants to meet their own needs) that meet European Union standards and will help increase the competitiveness of enterprises in domestic and foreign markets. After the implementation of the projects, customers will be able to apply for investment incentives (cash compensation, cashback).
“By installing solar panels or other elements, including gas turbine or gas piston stations, entrepreneurs will be able not only to ensure their own energy independence but also to sell the remaining energy produced to the grid, thereby contributing to the country’s energy security,” added the Head of Sales to Medium Corporate Clients at OTP Bank.
The Myasniy Rai chain of stores, known for its high-quality meat products, announces the sale of its assets and trademark. The offer opens up new opportunities for investors and entrepreneurs seeking to develop their business in the retail sector.
The Myasniy Rai chain was founded in 2017 and quickly gained the trust of customers due to its high quality products and focus on local suppliers. The first store was opened on Shevchenko Boulevard, after which the chain was constantly expanding, opening new outlets. During 2018-2022, 8 stores were opened. The total investment in business development and support amounted to more than $700,000. Now Myasnyi Rai includes three stores, a production shop, a coffee shop and an online store providing a wide range of products for customers.
Key assets:
Advantages and prospects
The Myasnyi Rai chain offers a unique opportunity for investors to enter the food market with a ready-made, well-established business.
Main advantages:
This offer for sale is an ideal option for entrepreneurs who want to invest in a stable and profitable business with broad development prospects. For more information, please call +380 67 230 00 17.
BUSINESS, BUY_BUSINESS, INVESTMENTS, MEAT, MEAT_PARADISE, TRADE
