Ukraine and the European Investment Bank (EIB) on the margins of the Ukraine-EU summit in Brussels on Monday signed an agreement on the allocation of a EUR 75 million loan for the implementation of the project on improving road safety in Ukrainian cities. “The EIB allocates EUR 75 million, which will be received by five largest cities in Ukraine – Dnipro, Kyiv, Lviv, Odesa and Kharkiv,” the press service of Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze reported.
The EIB said in a press release due to the signing of the agreement that in addition to the loan, an EU grant of EUR 4.25 million will be provided as part of the so-called Neighborhood Investment Facility (NIF), allocated for the preparation of the project, development and monitoring.
The executor of the project is the Ukrainian Infrastructure Ministry, and the recipients of financial assistance from the EIB are the authorities of these cities. Investment will be directed to eliminate the most dangerous sections by creating better interchanges and modern transport systems, as well as improving intersections and updating the road infrastructure, the bank said.
According to the bank, other changes planned within the project will include the development of a network of safe bike and pedestrian paths, urban transport planning system, introduction of speed limits in residential areas and school areas, and the introduction of an IT-based traffic management system.
The German Development Bank (KfW) will provide OTP Leasing (Kyiv) with a subordinated loan of $17 million under the Agrofinancing program.
According to a press release of KfW, the corresponding loan agreement was signed by the parties on June 19.
The loan is granted for seven years with payment at the end of the term.
“To date, KfW has cooperated with banks in the Ukrainian financial sector, but leasing is a good alternative for financing investments, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises in agricultural sector. Therefore we are very pleased with our new partner, OTP Leasing, and, providing it with a subordinated loan, we are implementing a new financial instrument in Ukrainian leasing,” KfW Director in Ukraine Lutz Horn-Haacke said.
According to the report, the loan attracted by OTP Leasing will allow to provide Ukrainian companies with $180 million financing this year instead of the planned $100 million.
OTP Leasing is part of the European financial group OTP Group. The company was founded in June 2008 as a subsidiary of OTP Bank. It provides a full range of leasing services, works with the leading manufacturers of machinery, equipment and vehicles.
The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) on June 14 approved $250 million in political risk insurance for national joint-stock company Naftogaz Ukrainy covering its revolving gas purchase facility. OPIC said on its website that this will help Naftogaz build up gas reserves during the summer months to maintain a reliable supply and affordable prices. Earlier OPIC said that it is planned that the relevant loans, the total amount of which can reach $270 million, will be attracted by Naftogaz from Goldman Sachs International and other international financial institutions.
OPIC said the implementation of the project will allow Naftogaz to purchase gas in the amount of up to 4% of the annual consumption of Ukraine at an attractive price for its subsequent sale in the autumn-winter period.
Naftogaz Ukrainy unites the largest oil and gas producing enterprises of the country. The holding is a monopolist in transit and storage of natural gas in underground storage facilities, as well as oil transportation via pipelines throughout the country.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) could provide a senior secured long-term loan of up to $20 million to finance working capital of Astarta agricultural holding. According to a report on the bank’s website, the decision could be made on June 18.
The project will support the company in development and implementation of cooperation with local universities and schools, contributing to improved access to training and employment opportunities for young people.
In addition, the project is expected to contribute to significant efficiency and productivity gains through introduction of modern IT solutions and farming techniques as well as to support development of stronger backward linkages to local suppliers.
The total cost of the project is $242 million.
As reported, the EBRD in October 2017 provided a $25 million loan for seven years to build and buy sugar and grain storage facilities.
Astarta is a vertically integrated agro-industrial holding operating in Poltava, Vinnytsia, Khmelnytsky, Ternopil, Zhytomyr, Chernihiv, Cherkasy and Kharkiv regions.
