Ukraine in January-October 2019 reduced import of coal and anthracite (foreign trade code 2701) by 0.6% (by 100,450 tonnes) compared to the same period in 2018, to 17.325 million tonnes. According to the State Fiscal Service, coal was imported for $2.365 billion, which is 3.9% less than in January-October 2018.
At the same time, coal worth $1.382 billion (the share in imports is 58.44%) was received from Russia, while the United States supplied coal for $727.602 million (30.77%), Kazakhstan for $106.989 million (4.52%), and other countries for $148.358 million (6.27%).
In addition, Ukraine for the first ten months of 2019 exported 13,318 tonnes of coal and anthracite worth $527,000, in particular to Moldova for $395,000, to Hungary for $100,000, and Poland for $32,000.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on investors to invest in Ukrainian people, who are the main capital of the country, and reiterated that he personally guarantees protection to each investor. “You are in a phenomenal country. Without modesty, I’ll say that this is one of the most interesting and attractive startups on planet Earth. Yes, for 28 years important reforms were imitated, built a shadowy opaque system. As a result, Ukraine has become a kind of economic underdog. But the new Ukrainian government is too ambitious to put up with such a very unattractive status, and when they say that our chances are low, when they underestimate us, all this adds us adrenaline, determination, strength for a powerful economic leap,” he said, speaking at the Kyiv International Economic Forum on Friday.
Zelensky said that people are the main capital of Ukraine.
“This is the very one Made in Ukraine that we are proud of and which gives us a competitive advantage. After all, the modern global economy is actually an economy of talents. Economic growth in the world is mainly thanks to innovation, while Ukrainians are ready to become pioneers, Ukrainians are able to look to the future and understand the needs of tomorrow. Ukrainians are very talented, hardworking, courageous, ambitious, creative, and this is exactly what your investment needs,” he said, addressing investors.
The president said that Ukraine is well aware that the country needs equal rules of the game for everyone, cleansing the judiciary, overcoming corruption, digitalizing processes, reforming education in accordance with the challenges of the 21st century, laws that are vital for the economy, even when they are unpopular.
“Every day, together with the government and parliament, we are putting all these bills into life,” he said.
Zelensky called on investors to invest in Ukrainians, in Ukrainian youth, in Ukrainian startups, small and medium-sized businesses in Ukraine.
“And remember: today, Ukraine is a rough diamond that needs to be cut with internal reforms and external investments to become a real diamond not only in the center of Europe, but throughout the world. And I, as president, guarantee that I am ready to personally protect your every investment, every penny that you invest in each of our Ukrainians,” he said.
The president also said that the video shown before the opening of the forum said that, according to the forecasts of futurologists, until 2050 there will be two main players in the world: China and India, but it was also said that “futurologists are sometimes mistaken.”
“When I decided to run for the post of the president of Ukraine, there were also two other leaders, but futurologists are sometimes mistaken. Therefore, we all have to do everything this time so that futurologists are also mistaken, and among the two columns where India and China are, Ukraine too occupies pride of place,” he said.
The founder of Alibaba Group Jack Ma has said at the Kyiv International Economic Forum that he fell for Ukraine a long time ago and sees a large potential for development.
“Such a wonderful combination like this cannot fail,” he said at the forum, noting the fertile land, open and ready for change people, beautiful women and rich history among Ukraine’s advantages.
The founder of Alibaba said that there are few countries in the world where the president is a trifle over forty, the prime minister is thirtysomething, and some ministers are 28, and this is positive.
Ma said that he would invite his business partners to visit Ukraine.
In his opinion, Ukrainian-Chinese relations should be actively developing.
He also called for changing the situation when AliExpress products go to Ukraine from four to seven days “like in the last century.”
During his visit to Ukraine, Ma met with the president, visited a number of universities and will also be on a visit to the UNIT.City innovation park.
On November 12-13, 2019, Kyiv will host the 11th international conference, Petroleum Ukraine 2019. This was announced by the organizer of the event, A-95 Consulting Group.
Petroleum Ukraine is a central meeting point for the elite of the Ukrainian fuel market, owners and top managers of Ukrainian and foreign companies. More than 200 delegates visit the forum every year, including the largest players: Belarusian Oil Company, PKN Orlen, Ukrtatnafta, Proton Energy Group, OKKO, WOG, AMIC, Wexler Group, Vitol, Trafigura, Coral Energy, Alliance Energo Trade, and many others.
This year, the central topics of the event will be: the transformation of sources of fuel supply in Ukraine, the reform of the fuel trade control system, and alternative energy.
“The fuel market is experiencing an extremely difficult and eventful stage in its history. At the same time, there is a search for alternative sources of supply, a transition to a tougher fiscal control system and fierce competition between both legal players and the shadow market. Simultaneously, the new reality is shaping up with an understanding for the need for clean energy,” says Serhiy Kuyun, director of A-95 Consulting Group and moderator of Petroleum Ukraine.
Panel discussion will include reports by representatives of relevant ministries and departments (Ministry of Energy, the State Fiscal Service, and Ministry of Defense), state-owned companies (Ukrzaliznytsia, NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine), leading producers and suppliers of petroleum products, analysts from international energy agencies, owners and top managers of leading gas filling stations.
The first Petroleum Ukraine forum was held in 2009. A-95 Consulting Group is also the organizer of the largest conferences for participants in the liquefied petroleum gas market (LPG Ukraine) and suppliers engaged in transportation by sea (Black Sea Petroleum Trading).
The National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) estimates GDP growth in the third quarter of 2019 compared to the corresponding period of 2018 at 3.5%, according to the NBU’s inflation report. According to the NBU’s forecast, the growth of Ukraine’s GDP in the fourth quarter of 2019 compared to the corresponding period of 2018 will be 3.3%.
“According to the NBU’s estimates, in the third quarter of 2019 real GDP growth slowed down (to 3.5% year-on-year) primarily due to weaker indicators of certain basic activities,” the report said.
Thus, according to the central bank, the situation deteriorated in industry, in particular, mining and metallurgy, against the background of the further deterioration of external conditions for exporters. This, in turn, affected the performance of freight transport. The results of financial and insurance activities also weakened, primarily due to a less favorable comparison base.
At the same time, the NBU said agricultural growth rates remained high, they were supported by a significant harvest of late grains and oilseeds, which offset the lower yield of potatoes and fruits.
GDP qrowth in the third quarter was supported by consumer demand amid a significant improvement in consumer sentiment, higher wages, and pensions. This supported high growth in retail and passenger traffic, the report said.
SAS (Scandinavian Airlines) on October 26, 2019 serviced its first in eight years flight to Ukraine on the Oslo-Kyiv route, the Boryspil international airport has said in a report. SAS flies to Oslo’s main airport – Gardermoen.
The airline will make regular flights from Kyiv to Oslo with a frequency of three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, departing from Kyiv at 14.00 and arriving in Oslo at 15.50. From Oslo to Kyiv, the SAS will take off at 09:30 and land at 13:10. Travel time is 2 hours and 50 minutes.
Earlier, SAS had already flown to Ukraine, operating Copenhagen-Kyiv flights until March 25, 2011. The decision to terminate the flights was made by the airline due to the unprofitability of the route.
In 2012-2014, the Oslo-Kyiv route was operated by Norwegian Air Shuttle. Also, the Hungarian airline Wizz Air transported passengers on the same route.
