Business news from Ukraine

Ukrainian developers are adapting social infrastructure facilities to the requirements of inclusiveness and energy security

Ukrainian developers are adapting social infrastructure facilities in their residential projects to the increased requirements of inclusiveness and energy security, responding to the challenges of martial law, companies reported in a survey conducted by Interfax-Ukraine.

According to Alexander Nasikovsky, co-founder and managing partner of DIM Group, today, security issues in social infrastructure facilities, as well as in residential buildings, require an integrated approach.

“In our projects we apply a three-level security system, which includes, among other things, energy security. The projects provide the possibility of using alternative energy sources if necessary, strengthened means of automation of engineering communications. In the buildings we install double-glazed windows with new generation glass, which allows sunlight to penetrate into the room, but does not allow solar heat to pass through, we use heat-resistant mineral wool for insulation”, – he noted.

In the portfolio of DIM Group of Companies there are schools and kindergartens at different stages of realization. Thus, in Lucky Land Residential Complex the construction of six kindergartens is planned, and also the project of school is being realized, the operator of which will be KMDSH. In Park Lake City the company is implementing an elementary school, a community center with a restaurant and a kindergarten for 180 children.

Autonomy of life became one of the important factors in development during the martial law, says Alexey Shmatok, the project manager of Greenville Park. According to him, the “city within a city” principle became even more relevant given the air alerts and curfews.

“Constant air alerts, curfews, missile threats – the reasons why a person wants to have all the necessary infrastructure very close by, within a 10-15 minute walk. Parking, shelter, store, pharmacy, playground, school, cafe – all on the territory of the LCD to quickly get everywhere in case of danger,” he explained in a comment to the agency.

Along with autonomy, the inclusiveness of space plays an important role today. According to Schmatok, underground parking lots in Greenville projects are designed with inclusivity in mind, as these spaces will also be used as shelters.

“Total inclusivity is our new reality. Considering the large number of people who are injured and disabled as a result of war, every responsible developer must necessarily design and make in their facilities, whether social or commercial, everything necessary for all people to fully and freely use them, live comfortably and do not experience any limitations,” Dmitry Novikov, marketing director of City One Development, told Interfax-Ukraine.

On the territory of the residential complex “Novopecherskie Lipki” it is planned to build another school and kindergarten, which will also be realized taking into account the norms of inclusiveness and energy efficiency, Novikov said.

According to him, today the most energy-independent object of the developer’s social infrastructure is a kindergarten Leapkids.

“Even during construction, innovative technologies and energy-efficient solutions were applied, which allow the kindergarten to be independent of the city networks: solar collectors for heating and hot water supply, water treatment and purification system, special wells receive geothermal heat energy, which is processed into physically tangible heat. There is a ventilation system with recuperation,” he pointed out.

In its turn, KAN Development continues the construction of A+ school on the territory of “Faina Town” Residential Complex and realizes a recreation area with a swimming pool in “Republic” Residential Complex. KAN adjusts the projects of the complexes, adding shelters for the needs of children and teachers, as well as regulates the heating of houses with its own thermal boilers. We welcome people with different physical abilities on our doorstep: entrances to the buildings are designed without stairs, the ramp slope for access to courtyards is 10%, and in the entrance groups of housing and commercial premises – 2-3%,” the company reported.

In the portfolio of “Intergal-Bud” in the metropolitan region – four built educational institutions, the construction of preschool educational institution in the Residential Complex “Syretskye Gardens” continues, said the commercial director of the company Anna Laevskaya.

“Schools in our Residential Complexes meet the current requirements for energy efficiency and inclusiveness. Moreover, we take into account our previous experience and feedback from education operators who rent these buildings to improve the projects in the future,” the expert emphasized.

European Investment Bank to allocate EUR840 mln to restore Ukraine’s infrastructure

Ukraine Recovery Vice Prime Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov and President of the European Investment Bank (EIB) Werner Hoyer signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in Ukraine recovery projects envisaging allocation of EUR 840 million in 2023.
According to the press service of the Ministry of Community Development, Territories and Infrastructure, the memorandum, signed during the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2023 (London, June 21-22), provides for the allocation of EUR840 million for the implementation in 2023 of priority projects to restore the infrastructure of Ukraine.
Kubrakov reminded that since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion, the European Investment Bank has allocated EUR 1.7 billion in emergency aid to Ukraine. This money was used for the needs of the state budget and supported the economy of Ukraine.
“Today we are expanding our cooperation on the reconstruction of Ukraine. We will work together on a number of projects aimed at restoring municipal and transport infrastructure, improving energy efficiency, etc. We appreciate the support the Bank has already provided to Ukrainians, and we thank EIB President Werner Hoyer for his cooperation and the Bank’s critical role for Ukraine’s sustainability during the war,” Kubrakov said.
It is noted that EUR840 million, envisaged by the Memorandum, will be used for preparation, evaluation, financing and implementation of projects on reconstruction of municipal infrastructure (schools, hospitals, etc.); public buildings with consideration of energy efficiency; water supply and sewage infrastructure; transport networks and public transport.
The EIB will also finance the development of digital transformation and the strengthening of cybersecurity.
In addition, the Memorandum provides for the cooperation of Ukraine and the EIB on the use of a special trust fund from the EIB – EU for Ukraine Fund and lending projects in Ukraine with the support of the European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus (EFSD +) guarantees.
The Ministry of Reconstruction and the EIB will work on the implementation and application of a package of technical and consulting assistance for Ukraine worth about EUR100 million.
The European Investment Bank is one of the largest creditors of Ukraine. To date, the EIB’s portfolio of projects with the Ukrainian public and municipal sectors and businesses reaches more than EUR 7 billion.

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Ukraine counts on Austria’s help to rebuild infrastructure

Ukraine is counting on Austria’s assistance in restoring infrastructure and humanitarian demining, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmygal said.
“Austria is among the countries that helped Ukraine overcome this winter and Russia’s energy terror. In a conversation with Federal Chancellor Karl Negammer thanked for 10 million euros to restore energy, help with equipment and generators,” Shmygal wrote in the Telegram channel.
According to the prime minister, the sides also discussed support in the reconstruction of Ukraine.
“We count on Austria’s help in the reconstruction of infrastructure and humanitarian demining. Separately, we paid attention to the situation at the ZNPP and the strengthening of sanctions against the aggressor, in particular the impossibility of circumventing the restrictions already imposed by Russia,” he summed up.

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Volodymyr Zelensky: American business has every opportunity to take lead in restoring Ukraine’s infrastructure

American business has every opportunity to take leading positions in restoring Ukraine’s economy and infrastructure right now, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a video address to members of the National Association of US Manufacturers.
As the head of state noted, participation in the reconstruction of Ukraine after the hostilities will give an extraordinary moral advantage to all businesses. At the same time, according to him, businesses that help in one way or another the Russian tyranny, will not be able to avoid problems and reputational crisis.
“American business is well positioned to take the lead in both rebuilding the Ukrainian economy and infrastructure and in showing the world that it is human nature to serve precisely worthy ends, and that this gives and always will give the greatest result. Ukrainian life after this war will inevitably get a fresh start,” Zelensky said.
He stressed that Ukraine now needs to restore hundreds of industrial, infrastructure and social facilities, residential buildings.
“Entire cities, industries, productions. This is a colossal task. But realistic. Ukraine is interested in projects to create a full production cycle in titanium, lithium, aluminum production, ferrous metallurgy … We need to rebuild the economy and energy on new security principles. It is in Ukraine that we will combine green transformation with security transformation and set an example for the same transformation in other countries”, Zelensky said.
He also said that mechanical engineering, agro-processing, weapons production, including modern drones, IT, transportation and infrastructure, localization of business in Ukraine and convenient logistics to other markets from Ukraine, and human capital “are not just investment opportunities and growth, but a wide space for American victories.”
“I urge you to prepare for these victories now and come to Ukraine now so that when we return the world, your hard work will already be producing results,” the president concluded.
The National Association of Manufacturers is one of the largest associations of manufacturers in the American business world which represents large and small manufacturers from all branches of industry in all 50 states of the United States. The association now has about 14,000 members.

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Taiwan to allocate $56 million to rebuild civilian infrastructure in Ukraine

Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry has allocated about $56 million in the 2023 budget for rebuilding Ukraine’s civil infrastructure, Caribbean News Global reported Monday.
The publication said, citing Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry, plans to participate in the reconstruction of Ukrainian hospitals, schools, churches, energy facilities, water supply, bridges and transport on a bilateral and multilateral basis.
“Since the start of the war (Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine), the people and government of Taiwan have donated a total of 27 tons of medical supplies and more than 700 tons of humanitarian aid. Aid from Taiwan was quickly delivered via Poland, Slovakia and other neighboring countries to Ukrainians seeking to protect their homes during the war,” the publication notes.
Taiwan also donated more than $41 million to efforts in coordination with neighboring countries – including Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Lithuania – and international organizations to resettle Ukrainian refugees together.

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State Agency for Restoration and Development of Infrastructure to be responsible for restoration projects of Ukraine

The State Agency for the Restoration and Development of Infrastructure, which is being created by the decision of the government on Friday on the basis of the State Agency for Infrastructure Projects and the State Road Agency of Ukraine (Ukravtodor), will be responsible for the implementation of projects for the restoration of Ukraine, said Deputy Prime Minister for the Restoration of Ukraine Oleksandr Kubrakov.
“The most important thing is that we have a structure that is responsible for the efficiency, transparency and accountability of infrastructure restoration … The new agency will be able to implement ambitious plans into reality,” he wrote on Facebook on Friday evening.
Kubrakov, explaining the choice of the basis for the creation of a new agency, noted that the State Agency for Infrastructure Projects throughout its history has performed similar tasks for the state – large-scale projects involving both budget and external financing.
The Deputy Prime Minister added that Ukravtodor, which Kubrakov himself headed until May 2021, although he had previously focused mainly on road infrastructure, showed record results of successfully completed projects over the past three years.
Ukravtodor is the largest and most successful partner of international financial institutions. Reconstruction financing has already begun and, as expected, the main instrument is through the procedures of the World Bank, the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD),” the Deputy Prime Minister said.
According to him, on the basis of Ukravtodor, two key reforms are already being implemented as part of a major joint project with the EBRD and the EIB – anti-corruption and procurement reform, after which Ukravtodor will become the first public institution in Ukraine to receive ISO international certification for the prevention of corruption, and procurement specialists will receive international CIPS certification.
In addition, Ukravtodor has powerful representative offices in the regions with decent salaries and a flexible motivation system in accordance with successfully implemented projects, and in 2021 it issued infrastructure eurobonds, Kubrakov also pointed out.
“In order for the new Agency to be able to successfully cope with the tasks set, we are initiating negotiations with our partners to update the Reform Support Team on the basis of the Agency and launch an anti–corruption office in the center and in the regions,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.

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