Business news from Ukraine

PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE WANTS TO PLANT 1 BLN TREES ON 170,000 HA

The decree of President Volodymyr Zelensky on planting 1 billion trees within three years will be implemented, it will be implemented on 170,000 hectares, the total cost of the project is about UAH 2 billion, Head of the State Forest Resources Agency of Ukraine Yuriy Bolokhovets has said in an exclusive interview with Interfax-Ukraine. “For planting 1 billion trees, about 170,000 hectares are needed. We have already found up to 100,000 hectares of our own territories that require afforestation. These are sites of fire, areas where forests have been destroyed as a result of various factors. Another 70,000 hectares are land of local authorities, the head of the agency said.
He said that the State Forest Resources Agency proposed that the territorial communities, which land plots were in the zone of implementation of the Green Country presidential program, either plant a forest on its territory, or transfer these plots to the agency for afforestation. According to Bolokhovets, today, more than 20,000 hectares are in the process of being transferred from the communities to the enterprises of the State Forest Resources Agency.
“The second question is financing. We need UAH 2 billion for three years. I am absolutely sure that the forest industry, due to going from the shadows and more efficient work, is able to earn this money itself. And we will do it,” the head of the agency said.
Bolokhovets said that planting 1 billion trees is necessary to minimize the effects of global climate change, create protective belts of trees to protect against dust storms, as well as increase the country’s forest cover from the current 15.9% to the minimum required 20%.
The head of the State Forest Resources Agency also noted the increase in the procurement of seed material for forest reproduction several times. His agency is also creating infrastructure for large-scale seeding and building nurseries for growing quality planting material.
“This year we have already significantly increased the planting in comparison with previous years. Next year, we will at least double the planting. I am absolutely convinced that we will implement the President’s task,” Bolokhovets said.

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PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE ZELENSKY AND APPLE CEO DISCUSS CENSUS

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky discussed with Apple CEO Tim Cook the census project and the Ukrainization of Siri’s personal assistant, the press service of the Ukrainian leader said.
“It was about the population census project, which Apple successfully implemented in the United States, and the possibility of cooperation in the implementation of a similar task in Ukraine,” the press service said.
The parties also discussed the possibility of Apple building a data center for iCloud services in Ukraine, following the example of the center, which was built in Denmark. They also touched upon the Ukrainian localization of Apple products, including Siri personal assistant.
Zelensky told Cook about the achievements of our country in the IT sphere and expressed interest in further expanding Apple’s presence in Ukraine, in particular through online support teams, Apple Music and AppStore moderators, as well as device maintenance service.
“Today Ukraine is a powerful global IT hub. Our specialists successfully cooperate with Fortune 500 companies, including Apple,” he said.
The head of state presented the Diia.City project to the Apple CEO.
In addition, during the meeting, the parties discussed the possibility of cooperation in the direction of education in the field of programming for schoolchildren, students, veterans, medical workers, as well as providing schools and teachers with computers to support those programs that are already being implemented in Ukraine.

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PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE APPROVES STRATEGY OF FOREIGN POLICY

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, by his decree, put into effect the decision of the National Security and Defense Council of July 30, 2021 On the Strategy of Ukraine’s Foreign Policy.
The corresponding decree No. 448/2021, together with the decision of the NSDC and the text of the Strategy, was published on the website of the head of state on Thursday, August 26 and comes into force from the day of its publication.
According to the decree, the secretary of the Council Oleksiy Danilov is responsible for the implementation of the NSDC decision.
The strategy contains the main priorities and strategic goals of Ukraine’s foreign policy: the state’s course towards membership in the EU and NATO, restoration of territorial integrity and countering Russian aggression, promotion of Ukrainian exports and attraction of investments, cooperation with other states and international organizations, etc.

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PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE: OUR DUTY IS TO MAKE BABYN YAR PLACE OF MEMORY, NOT OBLIVION

Modern generations cannot change history, but they can adequately honor the memory of all the victims, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said at the opening of the Ukraine 30. Humanitarian Policy forum in Kyiv on Tuesday, commenting on the development of National Historical Memorial Preserve Babyn Yar.
“Babyn Yar is a terrible symbol of the Holocaust on our Ukrainian land. We cannot get rid of it, but we can win by honoring the memory of all victims, all those who died. The issue of historical justice is very acute. We are responsible to all past and all future generations for the historical justice,” he said.
The president said that during the Second World War, 1.5 million Ukrainian Jews were executed, and about 100,000 people in Babyn Yar.
“We have no right to forget about it and we will not forget. It is extremely important for Ukraine worthy, high-level honoring of all the victims of this tragedy,” he said.
Zelensky said that at the end of 2020 he signed a decree on measures concerning the 80th anniversary of the Babyn Yar tragedy and additional measures for the further development of National Historical Memorial Preserve Babyn Yar. In particular, the construction of the territory of this reserve continues, new facilities have been created, invitations have been sent out and many foreign guests are expected to attend events to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Babyn Yar tragedy, which will take place in September 2021.
“Our duty is to make Babyn Yar a place of memory, not a place of oblivion. There should not be a shooting gallery or any other complex. We, as a state, strive to make this place worthy of the memory of more than 100,000 victims of the Holocaust. It is very important that these aspirations are shared by our community. I am sure that all Ukrainians share,” he said.

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CURRENT PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE ZELENSKY TOPS PRESIDENTIAL RATING WITH 28% SUPPORT

Current President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky would receive the most support in the presidential elections if they were held in the near future. This is evidenced by the results of a survey conducted by the sociological service of the Razumkov Center.
So, among those who plan to take part in the elections and have decided on a candidate, 28% of those polled are ready to vote for Zelensky in the first round of elections (20% among all respondents). Fifth President of Ukraine, leader of the European Solidarity Party Petro Poroshenko is in the second place with the support of 18% of respondents (12.5% ​​of all respondents), leader of the Opposition Platform – For Life Party Yuriy Boiko is in the third place with the support of 14.5% and 11% of respondents, respectively.
Leader of the All-Ukrainian association Batkivschyna Yulia Tymoshenko would be supported by 10.5% among those who made their choice and 8% among all respondents, leader of the Strength and Honor party Ihor Smeshko is supported by 6% and 4%, respectively.
Some 3% of determined respondents (2% among all respondents) would vote for leader of the Ukrainian Strategy of Volodymyr Groisman party, and 3% (2% among all respondents) would choose leader of the Radical Party Oleh Liashko.
A total of 2% of those who decided on the choice and 2% of all respondents are ready to vote for chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Dmytro Razumkov; also 2% and 2% respectively would choose leader of the Civil Position party Anatoliy Hrytsenko; some 2% and 1% of respondents respectively would vote for representative of the All-Ukrainian Association Svoboda Ruslan Koshulynsky. Mayor of Kyiv Vitali Klitschko is supported by 1% among those who made their choice and 1% among all respondents.
If Zelensky and Poroshenko entered the second round, the current president would receive 60.5% of the votes of those who will take part in the elections and have decided on a candidate (32% among all respondents). Some 39.5% (20% of all respondents) are ready to vote for Poroshenko in the second round.
If Zelensky and Boiko entered the second round, 71% would vote for Zelensky among those who made their choice (36% among all respondents), some 29% and 15.5%, respectively, would vote for Boiko.
The study was conducted from April 22 to 29, 2021 using a face-to-face interview method at the place of residence of the respondents. A totral of 2,021 respondents aged 18 and over were interviewed in all regions of Ukraine, with the exception of Crimea and the occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, according to a sample representing the adult population in terms of basic socio-demographic indicators. The theoretical sampling error (excluding the design effect) does not exceed 2.3% with a probability of 0.95.

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PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE SIGNS LAW TO EXTEND EXPORT DUTY ON FERROUS SCRAP

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has signed the law on amendments to Section II Final and Transitional Provisions of the law of Ukraine on amending certain laws of Ukraine concerning reducing the shortage of ferrous scrap on the domestic market, by which it is proposed to prolong the export duty in the amount of EUR 58 per tonne for another five years.
“This document extends for five years – until September 15, 2026, the period of validity of the export duty rate of EUR 58 per tonne for waste and scrap of ferrous metals. Thus, conditions are created to prevent a shortage of ferrous scrap in Ukraine, which will contribute to smooth operation of domestic metallurgical industry, preserving jobs and increasing tax revenues to the budgets of all levels,” the press service of the head of state said.
In addition, the document will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere, which is in line with Ukraine’s intentions to join the European Green Deal, since each tonne of recycled scrap metal saves 1.5 tonnes of CO2, 1.4 tonnes of iron ore and 740 kg of coal.
“Recycling of scrap into steel requires only 1/3 of energy costs in comparison with the production of steel from primary raw materials,” it said.
The law comes into force the next day after its publication.

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