Business news from Ukraine

President of Ukraine and Prime Minister of Canada discuss prospects for investing in Ukraine with Canadian business representatives

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau met with representatives of Canadian business in Toronto, the presidential press service reports.
“The participants of the meeting paid attention to the prospects for investing in Ukraine and the necessary prerequisites to start this process before the end of the war,” the statement said.
Zelenskyy thanked Canada for the assistance Ukraine receives and emphasized the importance of implementing projects to restore the country.
“We are very interested in your coming to Ukraine, very interested in the restoration of Ukraine – this is what we need today. These are all areas in which you are strong. We are very interested in your work, business and technology,” Zelenskyy said.
For his part, Trudeau emphasized the importance of economic support for Ukraine.
“A lot needs to be done in terms of humanitarian and military assistance. But there is also a lot to be done economically. So I am glad that we can discuss this with President Zelensky,” the Prime Minister emphasized.
It is noted that the meeting was attended by the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak, his deputy Rostyslav Shurma, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of Canada Chrystia Freeland, President of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress Oleksandra Chyczij, heads of companies operating in the investment, banking, export, construction, energy, technology, etc.

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Canada to allocate $24.5 mln to purchase air defense equipment for Ukraine

Canada will provide CAD33 million ($24.5 million) for a joint initiative led by the United Kingdom to purchase additional air defense equipment for Ukraine, Reuters reported on Sunday, citing Canadian National Defense Minister William Blair.

In his statement, Blair said that this contribution is part of the CAD500 million military aid to Kyiv, which Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced in June.

The report notes that since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion in February 2022, Ottawa has provided more than CAD8 billion in aid, including about CAD1.8 billion in military assistance. The partnership, which also includes the United States, the Netherlands, and Denmark, aims to purchase hundreds of short- and medium-range air defense missiles and related systems.

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Natalia Tsmotsi has become Canada’s new ambassador to Ukraine

Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly announced the appointment of Natalia Tsmotsi as Canada’s ambassador to Ukraine, in this post she will replace Larissa Galadza, the Foreign Ministry’s website reported on Thursday, August 24.

“She is a professional expert on Ukraine with a wealth of experience and understanding of Canada’s multifaceted support to the country, including Canada’s implementation of democratic programs before the illegal Russian annexation of Crimea, the creation of Operation UNIFIER and Canadian monitoring of the Ukrainian elections after the 2015 presidential campaign,” – stated in the message.

It is noted that Natalia Tsmotsi speaks Ukrainian, has deep ties with the Ukrainian community in Ukraine and in Canada, and is ready to help deepen ties between the two countries at all levels.

The Foreign Ministry emphasized that thanks to the diplomatic mission of the newly appointed ambassador, “Canada will be able to continue supporting Ukraine in this difficult time and in the long term”.

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Ukraine’s Velta engages Canada’s Hatch to design plant in US

Velta group of companies with titanium ore mining assets in Novomyrhorod (Kirovograd region) has signed an agreement with international consulting company Hatch to design a titanium powder plant in the United States.

According to a press release on Tuesday, the agreement was signed between Velta Holding US Inc and Hatch.

It is noted that the new plant will be one of the first in the U.S. to operate based on Ukrainian low carbon footprint technology developed at Velta’s research center.

“This partnership agreement brings the Velta team closer to presenting the solution of Ukrainian scientists to the US titanium market, which is dangerously dependent on external supply chains,” the press service quotes Velta CEO Andriy Brodsky as saying.

At the same time, he expressed confidence that thanks to Hatch’s design expertise, the plant will be able to quickly and efficiently meet the demand for titanium for the countries that are Ukraine’s allies in the war.

The capacity of the first plant is designed for 1,000 tons per year of titanium powder with the potential to scale up in the future.

The company also emphasizes its intentions to build a similar plant in Ukraine.

Hatch is a leading consulting company for project design and implementation. The company’s professional experience includes projects in more than 150 countries in the metals, energy and infrastructure sectors, including four major TiO2 projects in Canada, South Africa and Senegal. The company also works closely with the communities where it operates its projects to avoid negative environmental impacts and promote economic development.

Velta Holding US, Inc. owns Velta LLC, a Ukrainian titanium feedstock producer that has built a titanium mining complex in Ukraine.

“Velta launched its R&D center in 2017 to develop a new method of titanium production. To date, the technology has already received two patents in the US.

PKF Velta LLC was registered in April 2000. The main activity is mining and production of ilmenite concentrate.

LLC VELTA Holding owns 100% of LLC PKF VELTA. The ultimate beneficiaries are three individuals: Andrey Brodsky (60%), Vadim Moskalenko (20%) and Vitaly Malakhov (20%).

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Canada expands sanctions lists against entities and individuals

On Thursday, July 20, a new package of anti-Russian sanctions came into force, targeting entities and individuals associated with the Russian military-industrial complex, as well as cultural figures who have voiced support for Russian aggression against Ukraine, according to the press service of the Canadian government.

“Canada imposes sanctions against 21 organizations associated with the Russian military-industrial complex, including financial and telecommunications companies,” the statement said.

The list included such companies as MTS, Megafon, Tele2, Tinkoff Bank, Yandex Pay, Beeline, the payment system “Mir” and others.

In addition, sanctions were imposed against 20 individuals associated with the Russian military-industrial complex, including important military figures who were active in Africa and Ukraine, and individuals associated with the Russian nuclear sector.

Separately, a sanctions list was released, including 19 individuals who use their art (music, acting, film) to propagandize the Russian invasion of Ukraine, as well as individuals from Russia’s cultural and educational sector, including museum directors, who are involved in the damage or total destruction of cultural property. in Ukraine.

They included Ivan Okhlobystin, Nikita Mikhalkov, Phillip Kirkorov, Iosif Prigozhin and others.

In addition, Canada imposed sanctions against four organizations involved in the Kremlin’s efforts to “Russify” Ukrainian culture. This number included the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, Besogon LLC and Readovka.ru LLC.

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Canada to provide additional $410m to strengthen Ukraine’s security

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced CAD541 million ($410 million) in new funding and projects to support Ukraine and strengthen transatlantic security at the NATO summit in Vilnius.

“The new funding for Ukraine builds on more than $8 billion in multifaceted assistance Canada has committed since the beginning of 2022, and builds on the Prime Minister’s announcement this week in Latvia to renew and expand Operation Reassurance, which is part of NATO’s defense and deterrence measures in Eastern Europe, and doubles Canada’s current presence in the country,” the Canadian head of government said in a statement on its website on Wednesday.

According to the prime minister, that Canada intends to provide Ukraine with additional drones with cameras, and will also provide training to the Ukrainian military as part of Operation Unifier in Canada.

In addition, the Prime Minister announced an additional CAD48.8 million ($37 million) to the Comprehensive Assistance Package for Ukraine, on top of the CAD34.6 million announced in April 2023, which will support NATO’s practical non-lethal assistance to Ukraine through the donation of materials including fuel, bridge equipment, radios and first aid supplies.

“Canada, along with Belgium, Denmark, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden and the United Kingdom, signed a statement to form a joint coalition to train the Ukrainian Air Force to operate and maintain F-16 fighter jets. By signing the statement, Canada commits to contribute to a multinational effort to train Ukrainian pilots, technicians and support personnel to operate and maintain F-16 fighter jets,” the statement reads.

Trudeau also announced an additional CAD2.7 million ($2.05) in cybersecurity assistance to Ukraine.