The Netherlands will provide Ukrainian farmers with EUR10 million for the demining of agricultural land and EUR40 million for the purchase of seeds and agricultural equipment as part of a total package of EUR180 million in aid to Ukraine, members of the Dutch Parliament’s Agriculture Committee said at a meeting in the Verkhovna Rada.
“We would welcome the Netherlands’ assistance in demining to speed up this process. After all, this is one of the most pressing problems of farmers, especially in the southern and eastern regions,” said Oleksandr Haidu, head of the Parliamentary Committee on Agrarian and Land Policy.
He suggested paying attention to projects to restore and modernize irrigation and drainage systems, expanding new logistics routes with the EU to help Ukrainian farmers export agricultural products.
Two dry cargo ships carrying corn and barley departed Ukrainian ports on Monday, the Joint Coordination Center (JCC) reported.
“Two ships left Ukrainian ports on January 23, carrying a total of 42,560 tons of grain and other food as part of the Black Sea Grain Initiative,” the report said.
Dry cargo ship Amyntor will deliver 27 260 tons of corn to the Netherlands, ship Ata will carry 15.3 thousand tons of barley to Israel.
Seven ships are also headed to Ukrainian ports, which on Monday passed through the maritime humanitarian corridor.
“As of January 23, the total tonnage of grain and other agricultural products exported from the three Ukrainian ports is 18,372,920 tons. A total of 1,340 vessels have so far been allowed to move: 667 to arrive at Ukrainian ports and 673 to leave them,” the JCC summarized.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said that the Netherlands decided to allocate EUR2.5 billion as aid to Ukraine.
“Had an important conversation with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. Thanked him for the decision to allocate 2.5 billion euros to help Ukraine fight the aggressor,” Zelensky wrote in Telegram on Friday.
“We appreciate the support of the Netherlands! And further work together to strengthen defense capabilities, energy sustainability, the restoration of critical infrastructure,” the head of state added.
Ukraine on Tuesday received from the Netherlands EUR200 million of credit funds on concessional terms through an IMF-administered account, the Ministry of Finance said.
According to its release, the loan amount bears interest at an annual interest rate equal to the IMF prime rate of interest (IMF basic rate of charge, fixed at 3.641% per annum).
The final repayment of the loan is carried out 10 years from the date of the sample of the loan, taking into account the grace period of 4.5 years from the date of the sample of the loan, the Ministry of Finance said.
The loan funds are designed to finance the cost of the general fund of the state budget, the ministry said.
As reported, in early July this year, the Netherlands announced a decision to allocate another EUR200 million to Ukraine through the IMF account. “The funds will be spent on the current needs of the Ukrainian authorities, such as salaries of civil servants, teachers, medics,” said Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation of the Netherlands Lisie Schreinemacher at the International Conference on the Recovery of Ukraine in Lugano, Switzerland.
Canada has transferred 500 million Canadian dollars to the administered account of the International Monetary Fund for Ukraine, and the Netherlands – EUR200 million, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said.
“Thank you, Canada, for a new contribution of CAD 500 million to the Administered Account for Ukraine. This is Canada’s third contribution to the account, which supports efforts to help stabilize the Ukrainian economy,” she said on Twitter.
“I am delighted to see another member of the international community joining the efforts to help stabilize the Ukrainian economy using the Administered Account for Ukraine. Thank you, the Netherlands, for your EUR 200 million contribution,” she said.
As reported, Canada is transferring to Ukraine as a loan through the IMF in the amount of CAD500 million received from the issuance of special five-year sovereign bonds in support of Ukraine.
In early July this year, the Netherlands announced its decision to allocate another EUR200 million to Ukraine through the IMF account.
The Netherlands will invest 100 million euros in the recently established International Foundation for Ukraine (IFU) to finance military equipment for Ukraine, the country’s Defense Ministry said.
According to the ministry’s website, this was announced by Dutch Defense Minister Kaisa Ollongren during a visit to the UK.
The IFU money is being used to purchase equipment directly from manufacturers to ensure its quickest possible delivery to Ukraine.
“If Russia stopped fighting, there would be no war. If Ukraine stopped fighting, there would be no Ukraine. International support for Ukraine remains vital,” the minister said.
The first industry contracts are expected to be signed by the end of this year. The first deliveries are expected in the first half of next year.
In addition to the Netherlands, other participants in the fund are its initiators Great Britain, Denmark and Norway.
