Welcome to the U.S.-Ukraine Business Council
U.S.-UKRAINE BUSINESS COUNCIL (USUBC)
Washington, D.C. (www.usubc.org)
 
USUBC Business Journal #1
News Articles About USUBC Members
Bunge, Boeing, SigmaBleyzer, Vanco, Horizon Capital, UPS,
Cardinal, Marks Sokolov & Burd, State Ex-Im Bank, Kraft,
AES, Westinghouse, Shell, Salans, Ukrainian-American
Environmental Association, USUBC Website, Eurasia
Foundation, ALICO AIG Life Insurance Company, WJ
Washington, D.C., Monday, November 5, 2007
 
INDEX OF ARTICLES  ------
Clicking on the title of any article takes you directly to the article.               
Return to Index by clicking on Return to Index at the end of each article

1.  BUNGE TO LAUNCH NEW VEGOIL PLANT IN UKRAINE
Reuters, Kiev, Ukraine, Friday, November 2, 2007
 
KOSMO CONSUMER GOODS RETAIL CHAIN OF 51 STORES
Interfax Ukraine Economic, Kyiv, Ukraine, Wed, October 24, 2007

4BLACK SEA GIVEN TO WORLD OIL EXTRACTION OUTSIDER
By Oleksiy Doroshenko, for EPravda
Translated to English by Anna Ivanchenko
Ukrayinska Pravda (UP), Kyiv, Ukraine, Fri, Nov 2, 2007

5. WNISEF BOARD MEETING & BRIEFING HELD IN WASHINGTON
Have raised a follow-on private equity fund of $130 million
U.S.-Ukraine Business Council (USUBC), Wash, D.C. Mon, Nov 5, 2007
 
6UPS JOINS THE U.S.-UKRAINE BUSINESS COUNCIL (USUBC)
U.S.Ukraine Business Council (USUBC), Wash, D.C. Mon, Nov 5, 2007
 
7CAPITAL FLIGHT: UKRAINE'S GAS PRICE CONTROLS PUSH
U.S. FIRM CARDINAL OUT
Behind the Breaking News, Briefing: By Tammy Lynch, Senior Fellow
Behind the Breaking News, Volume VI, Number 1,
Institute for the Study of Conflict, Ideology and Policy,
Boston, MA, Thursday, 1 November 2007

8UKRAINIAN OCTOBER LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Gene M. Burd, Head, Representative Office in Kyiv
Marks Sokolov and Burd, LLC, Kyiv, Ukraine, Mon, Nov 5, 2007
 
9U.S. FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD APPROVES STATE EXPORT-
IMPORT BANK OF UKRAINE TO SET UP REP OFFICE IN NY
Federal Reserve Board, Washington, D.C., Friday, August 17, 2007

10THE STATE EXPORT-IMPORT BANK OF UKRAINE, U.S. REP
OFFICE, JOINS THE U.S.-UKRAINE BUSINESS COUNCIL (USUBC)
U.S.-Ukraine Business Council (USUBC), Wash, D.C., Fri, Oct 26, 2007

11UKREXIMBANK TO SUPPORT UKRAINIAN EXPORTERS IN U.S.
Interfax Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, October 15, 2007

12KRAFT FOODS UKRAINE TO OPEN REPRESENTATION
OFFICE IN BELARUS THIS YEAR
Interfax-Ukraine Business, Kyiv, Ukraine, August 22, 2007

13AES KYIVOBLENERHO RE-ELECTS STEVEN WALSH
AS SUPERVISORY BOARD CHAIRMAN
Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, October 26, 2007

14INTERNATIONAL EXPERTS INSPECTING WESTINGHOUSE FUEL
AT UKRAINE'S YUZHNOUKRAINSK NUCLEAR POWER PLANT
Interfax Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, Oct 31, 2007

15ROSNEFT & SHELL PREPARE FOR SIGNING OF NEW AGREEMENT
Kommersant, Kyiv, Ukraine, October 22, 2007

16SALANS ADVISES FRENCH COMPANY AXA IN ACQUISITION
OF MAJORITY STAKE IN THE SHARE CAPITAL OF VESKO
Salans, Kyiv, Ukraine, August 9, 2007

17DNIPROAVIA PLANS TO BUY TWO EMBRAER-145 AND
TWO BOEING-737-500 AIRCRAFTS BY 2008
Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, September 27, 2007

18BROADBAND ACCESS MARKET UP 77% IN Q3 2007, TO $70M
Ukrtelecom, Volia Cable, Datagroup, SigmaBleyzer
Interfax Ukraine Economic, Thursday, November 1, 2007

19UKRAINIAN CARGO AIRWAYS (UCA) NEGOTIATES
PURCHASE OF TWO CARGO PLANES FROM BOEING
Interfax - Ukraine Business, Kyiv, Ukraine, September 25, 2007

20US-UKRAINE BUSINESS COUNCIL HOSTS MEETING WITH
MINISTER OF ECONOMY ANATOLIY KINAKH IN WASHINGTON
U.S.-Ukraine Business Council (USUBC), Wash, DC, Mon, Oct 22, 2007
 
NATIONAL SECURITY & ACHIEVE ENERGY INDEPENDENCE
Ukrainian-American Environmental Association (UAEA)
Rivne, Ukraine/Washington, D.C., Thursday, October 25, 2007
 
22PHILLY LAW FIRM LAUNCHES BRANCH OFFICE IN UKRAINE
By Dariya Orlova, Kyiv Post, Kyiv, Ukraine, Thu, Oct 25 2007
 
STATE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE
Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, November 2, 2007
 
U.S.-Ukraine Business Council (USUBC), Wash, D.C. Mon, Nov 5, 2007
 
25UKRAINE CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY BULLETIN
New CRS Bulletin: Eurasia Foundation, Telenor, Softline and USAID
U.S.-Ukraine Business Council (USUBC), Kyiv, Ukraine, Mon, Nov 5, 20007
 
 
 
OVER 50% IN POLI-GRAIN AND KHLIB ZHYTOMYRSCHYNY
Viktoria Miroshnychenko, Ukrainian News Agency
Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, October 22, 2007
 
U.S.-Ukraine Business Council (USUBC), Wash, D.C., Mon, Oct 15, 2007
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1
BUNGE TO LAUNCH NEW VEGOIL PLANT IN UKRAINE

Reuters, Kiev, Ukraine, Friday, November 2, 2007

KIEV - Oilseed processor and fertiliser producer Bunge Ltd plans to
launch a new sunflower oil processing plant in Ukraine with a daily
capacity of 2,000 tonnes of sunseed, an industry official said on Friday.

He said the plant, located in the Black Sea port of Iliychivsk, was likely
to start output this year. Ukraine already operates facilities to crush more
than 6 million tonnes of sunseed per season.

Producers have said the 2007 sunseed crop is likely to fall to 4.2 million
tonnes from more than 5 million in 2006. Sunoil output could total 1.8
million tonnes in 2007/08 against a record 2.3 million in 2006/07.

Ukraine consumes about 500,000 tonnes of sunoil per season and sold
abroad a record 1.86 million tonnes in 2006/07. This season, sunoil exports
could fall to about 1.3 million tonnes and raw sunoil amounted to about 80
percent of exports.
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2.  AEROSVIT TO LEASE 3 BOEING, 2 AEROBUS PLANES IN 2008

Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, Mon, October 22, 2007

KYIV - Ukraine's major passenger air carrier AeroSvit intends to take on
lease three Boeing and two Aerobus planes in 2008.
Air company's press secretary Serhii Kutsyi said this at a press conference.

In his words, the air company intends to lease in summer 2008 one Boeing
677, one Boeing 737 and two Aerobus 320 planes, and one more Boeing
737 in autumn.

Kutsyi added that most probably those planes would be used together with
air company Donbasaero, and the emblem of the AeroSvit and Donbasaero
alliance, which is being created now, will be put on the planes' tails.

Kutsyi noted that, despite AeroSvit received a controlling interest in
Donbasaero, the brands of both air companies would preserve.

As Ukrainian News earlier reported, on August 2 AeroSvit reached agreement
with the Boeing company on the purchase of 14 Boeing 737 NG airplanes by
the year of 2015.

Besides, AeroSvit is planning to lease up to 14 new Boeing 737 airplanes of
the NG series during the 2008 - 2011 period.

In February, AeroSvit and Donbasaero created a strategic alliance called the
Ukrainian Aviation Group that suggests consolidation of the companies'
technological, production and commercial resources.

In July 2007, the Donetsk city council endorsed the decision to reorganize
Donbasaero, which is a municipal company owned by the city council, into
a limited liability company with the same name.

The decision was endorsed because the AeroSvit airlines had won the tender
to become an investor in Donbasaero, having proposed the best investment
project for the development of the company's transport infrastructure.

According to the decision by the city council, AeroSvit will become a
co-founder of the limited liability company, and the property complex of
Donbasaero will be the contribution of Donetsk city authorities in its
statutory fund.

The city council will own 25.01% in the limited liability company, when
the rest will belong to AeroSvit.
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3.  UKRAINE: AMC PERMITS SIGMABLEYZER FUNDS TO BUY
KOSMO CONSUMER GOODS RETAIL CHAIN OF 51 STORES

Interfax Ukraine Economic, Kyiv, Ukraine, Wed, October 24, 2007

KYIV - The Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine (AMC) has permitted SBF
Southeast European Holdings B.V. (Amsterdam), part of SigmaBleyzer group,
to buy over 50% of Kyiv-based Sumatra-Ltd., which owns the Kosmo retail
chain, which sells cosmetics, perfumes and pharmaceutical products, the
committee's press service told Interfax-Ukraine on Tuesday.

The press service said that the chain has stores in Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Kyiv,
Mykolaiv, Poltava, Khmelnytsky and Cherkasy regions.

Sumatra-Ltd. was founded in December 1997. As of August 2007, the Kosmo
retail chain comprised 51 stores in seven regions of Ukraine.

Sumatra-Ltd. said that it plans to invest $40 million in the development of
the Kosmo chain and Kosmo Farma drugstore chain in 2008-2009, opening
another 200 stores in all regions of Ukraine.

The company said that its sales in 2006 grew by 50% year-on-year, and in
January through June 2007 they grew by 65% year-on-year.

In February 2007, SigmaBleyzer, a leading private equity firm focused on
Ukraine and Southeastern Europe, closed its fourth fund, SigmaBleyzer
Southeast European Fund IV (SBF IV).

The fund was closed at EUR 250 million ($326 million), the maximum amount
allowed by the partnership agreement, and 25% above its target, making it
the largest private equity fund in Ukraine and one of the largest funds in
Southeastern Europe.

SBF IV included a significant number of limited partners (LPs) from the
company's previous funds, as well as new investors. A total of 40 LPs
invested in the new fund, with investments ranging from a few million euros
to 20% of the fund, which was provided by the largest LP in SBF IV, the
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

Other investors in the fund include Goldman Sachs, UBS, LVMH, Bank
Austria, InvestKredit and other large financial institutions and family
funds.

SBF IV will make investments of EUR 10-70 million, with larger investments
possible through a series of co-investment agreements with its LPs.

In 1996, SigmaBleyzer created the first Ukrainian Growth Fund (UGF). Since
that time, UGF has grown into a family of three funds consisting of UGF I,
UGF II, and UGF III. SigmaBleyzer has offices in Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine,
the Netherlands, and the United States.
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4.  BLACK SEA GIVEN TO WORLD OIL EXTRACTION OUTSIDER

By Oleksiy Doroshenko, for EPravda
Translated to English by Anna Ivanchenko
Ukrayinska Pravda (UP), Kyiv, Ukraine, Fri, Nov 2, 2007

The saga with concluding the first in the history of independent Ukraine
agreement on distribution of oil products extracted in Black Sea shelf
achieved its climax.

The process lasted for more than a year and a half. During this time all
terms envisaged by legislation expired, the government changed but the
American company using political factors among others managed to
achieve its goal.

In particular, on Friday in Kyiv the Cabinet of Ministers and Vanco
International Ltd., the subsidiary of Vanco Energy Company (Houston, USA)
signed the long-awaited agreement on distribution of products the extraction
of which will be carried out on the territory of Transkerch oil and gas
bearing field of the Ukrainian part of the shelf.

EP decided to recall how everything started and to analyze which negative
and positive results Ukraine will obtain from this agreement.
UKRAINIAN BREAKTHROUGH
For the time being Ukraine stays the only country of the Black Sea basin
which does not extract minerals on its part of deep shelf. In particular, in
the 90s Romania obtained a British corporation Ramco and an Austrian
corporation OMV for exploration of its deep sea fields Swan and Rhapsody.

In 2004 Turkey together with British company ?P Inc. completed 3D
exploration of fields on the depth of more than 1 km near Georgian border
while in 2003 Georgia launched the project of joint 3D exploration of its
part of the shelf with an American company Anadarco.

Ukraine made its first real steps of exploration of deep sea shelf only in
spring 2005 when it gave an exploration license for middle-depth oil and gas
bearing structure Subbotino situated on the depths from 50 to 100 m, to
state joint-stock company "Chornomornaftogaz".

In its turn, Chornomornaftogas concluded an agreement on joint activities
with an American corporation Hunt Overseas Oil Inc. on additional
exploration and research and industrial maintenance of promising fields with
an area of 12 thousand sq. km to the south of Kerch strait. Until now all
projects on shelf exploration failed as there was no distribution agreement.

The last license for developing Black Sea shelf was given in 1999 to an
English company JP Kenny. In 1997 the license for shelf development in the
area of Shtormova structure was obtained by Shell. However, this project
ended in fiasco, as the minerals were not found in the end.

In December 2005 Ukraine announced the first bidding for the right of
carbohydrates extraction in Transkerch area of the Ukrainian part of the
Black Sea shelf.
FROM THE OUTSKIRTS OF OIL EXTRACTION
TO THE BLACK SEA SHELF
During the primary stage of the bidding process 15 companies expressed
their interest to participate. Among them one could find both commonly
acknowledged "old hands" of extraction and novices.

The news of RosUkrEnergo A.G. purchasing introductory documentation
became a surprise as it has no experience in deep sea shelf exploration.

Only 5 candidates submitted their bids on time and created rather unexpected
unions. Separate bids were submitted by Hunt Oil Company of Ukraine
(Poland), Vanco International Ltd (USA) and Ukrainian JSC Ukrnafta, joined
bids by Shell, Exxon Mobile (USA), Turkiye Petrolleri A. O. (Turkey) and
Alphex One Ltd (United Kingdom).

It is interesting to note that Shell and Exxon competing on the global
market of energy carriers very rarely join their efforts. The last precedent
occurred several years ago when these companies joined to obtain control
over gas market in Germany. Most experts believed that this union would
win. But they were wrong.

In particular, 25 days were enough to define the winner of the bidding
process. The commission submitted its conclusions based on the analysis of
participants' offers for governmental review, and the government in its turn
announced Vanco International Limited the winner. Many participants were
surprised and disappointed with the decision, to say the least.

However, all of them refused to supply any official comments except SJSC
Chornomornaftogaz general manager of the time Oleksandr Horoshkevych.

"If we compare this company with other participants of the bidding process
such as Shell, ExxonMobil, Hunt Oil Company, it is undoubtedly less known
in the world, we don't know any special activities of this company in the
field of oil and gas extraction. In our opinion, the commission's decision
looks strange but we don't want to comment on it," he said.

The surprise of well-known companies can be understood by only looking at
the history of Vanco development. In particular, from 1973 till 1996 the
company worked in the Northern Sea and discovered several oil and gas
bearing fields on the Netherlands shelf. Of course, this can undoubtedly be
considered one of its achievements.

However, with the change of conditions on global carbohydrates market (sharp
increase of demand and an adequate leap of resource prices as a consequence)
the company was removed from this favorable region by its more well-known
competitors. After that it started working in a new direction, which is deep
sea exploration of underexplored regions in Western Africa.

Many specialists call Africa the outskirts of global oil extraction, and
famous companies are reluctant to work there - first of all, because of
terrorists, and secondly because of corruption in African countries.

However, even without competitors Vanco didn't manage to achieve notable
results. That is why Ukrainian and foreign experts were surprised with the
governmental choice.
THIRTY YEARS OR THREE YEARS?
Let us finally pass to the agreement itself. Ukraine expects more than 15
billion US dollars of investments during thirty years and also more than 200
million tons of extracted carbohydrates. Project realization is planned to
provide more than 200 billion UAH for the state budget.

The numbers do impress but for the time being none of the sides has been
able to announce the most intimate part of the agreement, so to say - and
that is the proportion of production distribution.

According to the head and founder of Vanco Jean Van Dyke, the
announcement of these data is the priority of Ukrainian government. At the
same time, approximate distribution needs to be carried out in the following
way: 65 per cent to the Ukrainian government and 35 per cent to Vanco.

"65 to 35 is an approximate calculation. First of all, in the beginning we
plan to recover the costs. During this stage one proportion is going to
work. During the second stage, directly during extraction, the other
proportion will be valid. Besides, one shouldn't forget that we also pay a
revenue tax. And if we add up everything, the final result will show an
average distribution of 65 to 35," said the head of Vanco.

If we turn to global practice we can assume that during the first stage when
costs are being recovered the American side will obtain the major part of
products and during the second stage it will be Ukraine.

Then it becomes understandable why the government doesn't hurry in
disclosing the information because even in the abovementioned Africa the
distribution in favor of the state amounts to much more than the average 65
per cent.

Besides, it is necessary to keep in mind that already in three years after
the work on shelf the American investor can leave Ukraine. In particular,
the first stage of field development amounts to eight years in total: three,
three and two years.

During the first three years of work in Transkerch field the company intends
to invest 100 million US dollars, to carry out 3D seismics on the territory
of 3 thousand sq. km and to drill two wells. "By the end of the first three
years we must provide 25 per cent of licensed area in Ukraine's disposal.

In fact, in three years we can refuse from the license if the wells turn out
to be dry," stressed Jean Van Dyke. During the next three years the company
intends to invest 130 million US dollars, to carry out 3D seismics of
additional territories and to drill two more wells. "In eight years we must
surrender the whole area to Ukraine except the fields we leave to
ourselves," said the head of Vanco.
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LINK: http://www.pravda.com.ua/en/news/2007/11/2/9314.htm
LINK: http://epravda.com.ua/news/2007/10/24/57569.htm
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U.S.-Ukraine Business Council Website: http://www.usubc.com
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5.  WNISEF BOARD MEETING & BRIEFING HELD IN WASHINGTON
Have raised a follow-on private equity fund of $130 million

U.S.-Ukraine Business Council (USUBC)
Washington, D.C. Monday, November 5, 2007

WASHINGTON - The Board of Directors of the Western NIS Enterprise
Fund (WNISEF) met in Washington, DC on October 30, 2007.  While in
Washington the top management of WNISEF, along with the board,
provided financial highlights from the past year at an informal luncheon
briefing attending by officials of the U.S. government, Ukraine Embassy,
think-tanks. businesses and other organizations interested in Ukraine.

Natalie Jaresko, President and Chief Executive Officer said, "In 1995 when
Ukraine and Moldova were in the early years of their transition to a market
economy, WNISEF set upon a path to help these economies build a strong
private sector. A great deal has changed in the region since that time.

"A substantial M&A market has developed in Ukraine; foreign direct
investment and fixed capital investment overall are rising dramatically. The
banking sector of both Ukraine and Moldova is growing rapidly along with
consumer disposable income.

"This year we opened a new chapter in our effort to fulfill our mission. We
succeeded in raising a follow-on private equity fund of $132 million in less
than a year based on the team's experience and expertise, as well as the
region's promise."

Mark Iwashko, Executive Vice President and Chief Investments Officer
stated, "WNISEF has completed its twelfth full year of operations in
the region with over $130 million invested in 31 companies in Ukraine and
Moldova since inception and a second, private $132 million fund almost
fully invested.

Our track record is proof to the marketplace that profitable investments
can be undertaken in this region and, as a result, create the human,
technological and investment capital needed to sustain these market
economies."

WNISEF was established by the U.S. Congress and funded by the U.S.
government via U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

WNISEF is managed by Horizon Capital, a private equity fund manager
that originates and manages investments in mid-cap companies with
outstanding growth and profit potential in Ukraine and Moldova.

Horizon Capital team currently manages two funds, Emerging Europe
Growth Fund, LP (EEGF) and Western NIS Enterprise Fund (WNISEF).

Horizon Capital Advisors, LLC-Emerging Europe Growth Fund is
a member of the U.S.-Ukraine Business Council (USUBC). Natalie
Jaresko, Managing & Founding Partner, is a member of the USUBC
board of directors.  USUBC was represented at the WNISEF briefing
by its president, Morgan Williams.
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LINK: www.wnisef.org
LINK: http://www.horizoncapital.com.ua/
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6.  UPS JOINS THE U.S.-UKRAINE BUSINESS COUNCIL (USUBC)

U.S.Ukraine Business Council (USUBC)
Washington, D.C. Monday, November 5, 2007

WASHINGTON - The Executive Committee of the U.S.-Ukraine
Business Council (USUBC) is pleased to announce that UPS has
just been approved as the forty-ninth member of the USUBC and
is the twenty-seventh new USUBC member this year.

USUBC met with Arnold F. Wellman, Vice President, Corporate
Public Affairs, Domestic/International, in Washington. Mr. Wellman
confirmed the very strong business interest UPS has in Ukraine and
the desire of UPS to become a member of USUBC.

Morgan Williams, SigmaBleyzer, president of the USUBC said
Mr. Wellman will represent UPS on the USUBC board of directors.

The USUBC welcomes UPS into our rapidly growing membership.
UPS has over 300 employees in Ukraine and provides services to
many Ukrainian cities.

UPS was founded in Seattle, Washington on August 28, 1907 and
thus are celebrating 100 years of service.

Mr. Wellman has been to Ukraine many times and just recently
returned from a one week trip there. Arnold many times goes to the
Ukrainian village of Nizankowice, on the far western border near
Poland, where he works on a People-To-People project UPS has
implemented to support the development of the local school and
also to provide computers and satellite Internet connection.

UPS also has a People-To-People project in the neighboring small
villages of Lipa and Sierakosce, Poland. Last year, 80 UPS employees
from 11 countries built a fully functioning 38-foot by 42-foot computer
lab, complete with high-tech computers, printers, software, and training
for students, teachers, and residents in Lipa.

The People-To-People project is a part of UPS' unique strategy to
personally get to know and understand the residents of a rural
community in a country where the company is doing business.

UPS has adopted a distinctly different approach to entering a new
market by encouraging its employees to immerse themselves in the
local culture as they work side-by-side with residents of the community
to improve their way of life.

The UPS Foundation enables nonprofit organizations to serve
communities more effectively around the world.  The UPS
Foundation's global giving focus addresses three areas:  literacy,
hunger and volunteerism (www.community.ups.com).
TWENTY-SEVENTH NEW MEMBER FOR THE USUBC ----
UPS is the 27th new member for the U.S.-Ukraine Business Council
(USUBC) in the last eleven months and brings the Council's total
membership to forty-nine. Information about the USUBC can
be found on the website: www.usubc.org. The new members are:

           (1)   American Continental Group, LLC
           (2)   Atlantic Group
           (3)   Bracewell & Giuliani LLP
           (4)   Bunge North America
           (5)   Cardinal Resources
           (6)   Charles H. Camp, Attorney
           (7)   Cisco Systems
           (8)   The Coca-Cola Company
           (9)   The Eurasia Foundation
           (10)  Holtec International
           (11)  International Environmental Trading Group
           (12)  Kennan Institute, of the Woodrow Wilson
                   International Center for Scholars (WWICS)
           (13)  Kyiv-Atlantic Group of Companies
           (14)  Marathon Oil Corporation
           (15)  Marks and Sokolov, LLC
           (16)  Northrop Grumman
           (17)  Open World Leadership Center at the
                   Library of Congress
           (18)  Shell Oil Company
           (19)  The State Export-Import Bank of Ukraine (U.S. office)
           (20) TD International, LLC
           (21) U.S. Civilian Research Development Foundation (CRDF)
           (22) U.S.-Ukraine Foundation (USUF)
           (23) Ukrainian-American Environmental Association (UAEA
           (24) Ukrainian Development Company (UDC)
           (25) Ukrainian Federation of America (UFA)
           (26) UPS
           (27) Vanco Energy Company
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7.  CAPITAL FLIGHT: UKRAINE'S GAS PRICE CONTROLS
PUSH U.S. FIRM CARDINAL OUT

Behind the Breaking News, Briefing: By Tammy Lynch, Senior Fellow
Behind the Breaking News, Volume VI, Number 1,
Institute for the Study of Conflict, Ideology and Policy,
Boston, MA, Thursday, 1 November 2007

In the midst of Ukraine’s ongoing political negotiations to create a new
government, a number of worrying signs for the country’s potential investors
have gone almost unnoticed internationally.

During the last two weeks, an independent US energy firm chose to leave the
country, while a military-style raid on a major oil refinery called into
question the country’s ability to enforce the rule of law.
CARDINAL RESOURCES
On 30 October, Cardinal Resources plc announced plans to sell its Ukrainian
assets.  The US-owned corporation was one of the first independent oil and
gas exploration firms to invest heavily in Ukraine 10 years ago, drawing
largely from US investors.

Its experience speaks volumes about the difficulties of working in an
environment that provides no legitimate avenues for influence on government
decisions and no clear rule of law.

According to Cardinal CEO Robert Bensh, his company’s exit from the country
is necessary because government price controls and increased fees make it
impossible to earn a profit – or even to break even. The company, he said,
“can’t generate any revenue because of capped prices.”  (1)

Bensh said the sale of the company’s interests was the only viable option
available, with bankruptcy protection being the company’s sole  alternative.
(2)  The Kuwait Energy Corporation (KEC), which bought Cardinal’s assets for
$71 million, will take over the company’s share in the operation of four gas
fields and three licenses in Ukraine.

According to those close to the operation, Cardinal had intended to invest
roughly $100 million in further exploration, in an attempt to increase
Ukraine’s domestic gas production.  The country now depends on Russia’s
Gazprom for 85% of its gas.  KEC likely will move forward with these plans,
after a pause to allow more favorable conditions to develop.

Investors are waiting, said Bensh, and are hopeful for more favorable
conditions under the new government, which should be confirmed by
mid-November. Regulations have “stopped most foreign investment” in the
energy field, leaving the country “18 months behind” where it would have
been, he said. (4)
DECREE 31
Cardinal’s difficulties began in December 2006, when Ukraine’s government
included a new regulation for international and domestic businesses in its
2007 state budget.

The regulation specifies that all companies in joint-ventures with
state-owned enterprises must sell their products to one state-designated
company at a fixed price. (5)

In February 2007, Ukraine’s government enacted the widely condemned “Decree
31.”  This measure forces energy companies like Cardinal to sell its product
to the state-owned Naftohaz Ukrainy, at a price set by Naftohaz Ukrainy.

The price offered was approximately $1.50 mcf (1 mcf=1,000 cubic feet).
This price is almost 300 times lower than the market price of around $4 mcf
for which Cardinal sold its product in 2006, before the new regulations.  It
is also below Cardinal’s production costs of $1.70 mcf. (6)

At the same time, the cabinet raised taxes and royalties on profits for most
companies operating in Ukraine to 30%-50% of gross profits.  It, therefore,
became impossible for Cardinal and other similar companies to break even,
let alone to make a profit.

In response, Cardinal repeatedly met with Ukraine’s officials, including
Fuel and Energy Minister Yuriy Boiko, to urge them to rescind Decree 31 and
return to market pricing. Cardinal representatives also say they sought
assistance from US government officials, but to no avail.

Another oil and gas exploration firm, Europa Oil and Gas plc, went to court
following the passage of Decree 31.  The company won its case based on
Ukrainian legislation governing foreign investment that guarantees the right
to sell at market prices.

The court ruled that the company could sell its gas at market prices, but it
has been reported that the government is simply ignoring the ruling. (7)

In response, several production companies attempted to stop selling their
gas domestically, pumping it into storage instead.  Cardinal received
information, however, that its gas has been taken from storage by Naftohaz
Ukrainy.  The company has been unable to confirm this report. (8)

Bensh and others interviewed for this article suggest several reasons for
the government’s actions:

First, Decree 31 was passed during the pre-election season.  By capping gas
prices, Yanukovych could guarantee low domestic prices for a limited time.
The increased taxes also could be used to help maintain budget expenses,
which ballooned prior to the election.

Second, some suggest that companies like Cardinal and Europa have been
caught in a larger struggle between Ukrainian business interests for control
of both Ukrnafta, Cardinal’s state-owned joint venture partner, and the
country’s overall gas network. The gas network is Ukraine’s most lucrative
asset, generating up to a quarter of the country’s GDP.
UKRNAFTA
In 2006, Ukrnafta produced 70% of Ukraine’s total oil and gas condensate and
16% of its natural gas output, according to a May 2007 report from Dragon
Capital.   (9)

Although the state owns a 50% + 1 share in Ukrnafta, it has been de facto
controlled by Pryvatbank (a subsidiary of the Pryvat Group), which
technically owns only 42%.

The CEO of Pryvatbank/Group, Ihor Kolomoisky, controls the Ukrnafta board
and most of its assets. This is thanks to former President Leonid Kuchma,
who reportedly allowed Pryvat “free rein in directing Ukrnafta,” and who
allowed Kolomoisky to install personnel loyal to him. (10)

Those close to the situation suggest that Yanukovych’s government may have
attempted to dilute Kolomoisky’s control over Ukrnafta through various
techniques, in order finally to assert the state’s majority interest.  Those
techniques appear to include minimizing Ukrnafta’s profits through Decree
31.

According to Ukrainian investment firm Concorde Capital, Ukrnafta has
suffered significantly from the price caps imposed by Decree 31 and by an
increase in their tax and royalty payments to 50%.

Like Cardinal, Europa and others, Ukrnafta has been unable to profit from
sales of its product. The company reported a 48% year on year drop in 9M
EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization).
(11)
KOLOMOISKY VS. FIRTASH
This drop in revenue has allowed fellow oligarch Dmitro Firtash to gain a
foothold in Kolomoisky’s interests. Firtash controls the gas distribution
company Ukrgazenergo - a subsidiary of gas intermediary RosUkrEnergo
- and Ukrnafta’s direct competitor. His interests are primarily co-owned with
Russia’s Gazprom.

Firtash has pushed in the last year to dominate Ukraine’s entire gas system,
from extraction to production to distribution.  The government’s new
regulations have (possibly unintentionally) assisted him, as his
international gas sales have cushioned his companies from the cap on
domestic prices. (12)

All of this reportedly has forced Kolomoisky into a deal.  Firtash now is
said to have taken over the controlling share of Ukrnafta.   This
information could not be confirmed.

If it is true, one company, backed by Russia, may now control Ukraine’s
entire gas system, with only the pipelines remaining clearly under state
control.  The most important effect of Decree 31 may be a lessening of the
already limited competition that existed in the gas sector.
THE POLITICAL RESPONSE
This is an issue that likely will be one of the first on the agenda of the
new Ukrainian government of Yulia Tymoshenko.  At an investor event in
September, Tymoshenko suggested that the state must create more effective
competition in the energy field.

She also stated that she would initiate a complete overhaul of business
regulations, with many simply being removed.  In particular, when asked
about “Decree 31,” she said, “Without question, that has to go.  It can’t
remain.  It’s not a complicated issue.”  Further, “We need market
mechanisms.” (13)

Tymoshenko and her allies also have expressed concern at the increasing
number of “corporate raids” on large companies, and the effect of these
raids on the energy market.  The raids have affected at least two of the
country’s oil refineries, as businesses fight for control of production
capacity.
THE RAID ON KREMENCHUG
Just two weeks ago, a group of “private security guards in camouflage
uniforms” arrived at the Kremenchug Oil Refinery, located in Ukraine’s
Poltava Oblast, and physically took control of the plant.

The CEO who has run the plant since 2004 was removed, while the former CEO
(from 2004) was reinstated. The Ukrtatnafta corporation, which is largely
owned by Russia’s Republic of Tatarstan and which controls the plant,
immediately stopped supplying the refinery with oil. (14)

Since the refinery provides up to 50% of all domestic oil products, the
price for petrol and other oil products in Ukraine has begun to increase.

Pavlo Ovcharenko, the CEO reinstalled by armed guards, claims he was
reinstated to the position thanks to a court order.  That court—located in
another oblast—reportedly ruled that 18% of the shares in Ukrtatnafta, which
are controlled by companies friendly to Tatarstan’s interests, should be
transferred to the state, giving it control.
CORPORATE RAIDING AND CORRUPTION
In its report “Corruption, Democracy and Investment in Ukraine,” The
Atlantic Council of the United States identified “raiding” as one of the key
areas of corruption in the country. (15) Various sources suggest that, in
the last two years, from 2,000-3,000 raids have occurred against major
corporate entities.

 In essence, the money (or to be blunt, bribes) reportedly paid for court
decisions and for the passivity of law enforcement officials, which
facilitates the raids, undermines the country’s entire system of rule of
law.

During a telephone conference call on 28 October, former (and likely future)
Finance Minister Viktor Pynzenyk (BYUT) identified both arbitrary
regulations and corporate raiding as the largest detriments to foreign
investment in Ukraine.

“The goal [of the new government] is to give all investors access, and we
would also like to introduce legislation to prevent further spreading of
raiders’ attacks, against which ordinary investors are defenseless.” (16)

Despite all of these concerns, foreign investors continue to express
interest in Ukraine, and the economy continues to perform well, given the
pressures on it, growing at least 6% per year.

The number of small and medium businesses in the country is steadily
increasing, as they generally are untouched by the battles raging over
Ukraine’s largest assets, while market mechanisms show signs of taking root
in many sectors.

Cardinal Resources’ Robert Bensh said he is “encouraged” by the country’s
prospects.  Most who have suffered losses because of arbitrary decisions or
unworkable fees also seem to believe that these issues can be addressed,
even though valuable time and momentum already has been lost.

Large investors say they are waiting, but not turning away.  It will be up
to Ukraine’s next government to ensure that this optimism is not misplaced.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
SOURCE NOTES:
(1) Bensh telephone interview with author, 26 Oct 07.
(2) Ibid.
(3) Ibid.
(4) Ibid.
(5) Taras Kuzio, “Yanukovych and gas price capping,” Kyiv Post, 15 Aug 07.
(6) Interview with Robert Bensh by Morgan Williams, US-Ukraine Business
Council, in the Action Ukraine Report, 12 Aug 07.
(7) Bensh, ibid and Kuzio, ibid.
(8) Bensh, ibid.
(9) Dragon Capital, Ukrnafta: Ukraine Equity Guide, May 07.
(10) Zeyno Baran, “Energy Reform in Ukraine: Issues and Recommendations,”
The Nixon Center, Mar 05.
(11) Concorde Capital, Ukrnafta: Under Review Alert, 29 Oct 07.
(12) Bensh, ibid.
(13) “Contract with Investors,” Yulia Tymoshenko, Investor/Press Event,
Kyiv, 10 Sep 07.
(14) Bloomberg, 1153 EDT, 19 Oct 07 via www.bloomberg.com.
(15) “Corruption, Democracy and Investment in Ukraine,” Policy Paper, The
Atlantic Council of the United States, Oct 07.
(16) Conference Call with Viktor Pynzenyk, hosted by Concorde Capital, 28
Oct 07.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LINK: http://www.bu.edu/iscip/bbn.html
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[return to index] [U.S.-Ukraine Business Council Monitoring Service]
========================================================
8.  UKRAINIAN OCTOBER LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Gene M. Burd, Head, Representative Office in Kyiv
Marks Sokolov and Burd, LLC
Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, November 5, 2007

During the month of September Ukraine was in the last month of its
election campaign season, and this fact gave strong political coloring to
many Presidential decrees and resolutions of the Cabinet of Ministers.

No laws have been adopted since the Parliament has been dissolved. 
The more notable legislative acts are included in this update.

[1] BANKING -----
NBU Decided to Postpone Decreasing Limits on the Banks' Maximum US
Dollar Borrowing Rate

On October12 the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) adopted resolution No.
350, which became effective on October 22, postponing the decrease in
maximum borrowing rates for cross-border loans.

Previously, NBU Resolution No. 235 (which was supposed to become
effective on October 19) imposed a maximum limit equal to the average
weighted interest rate of the outstanding Ukrainian government bonds
plus two percent.

The resolution was severally criticized because it would have cut out
borrowing by any Ukrainian banks that would have been unable to borrow at
the rates below the maximum.  Western banks providing loans to  Ukrainian
banks would also have been affected by the proposed regulations.

The adopted Resolution 350 postponed the effective date of the maximum
interest rates to January 1, 2008, meanwhile providing that maximum
borrowing rates would be "based on the value of government obligations."

The NBU explained that "at the time of determining such rates, the National
bank takes into account interest rates of the Ukrainian bonds issued by the
Ministry of Finance of Ukraine taking into account average spread
(difference between interest rates) between sovereign obligations and those
of the subjects of economic activities [companies], as well as the rating of
the subjects of the economic activities [companies] established by the
international rating agencies."

In a nutshell, the NBU, instead of binding itself into a concrete formula,
adopted a "wait-and-see" approach leaving itself the freedom (and
responsibility) to impose the maximum rate based on the market.  It remains
to be seen whether NBU's judgment of the market and its financial wisdom
will be effective.
[2] NATURAL RESOURCES
The President Suspends Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers Establishing
Procedures for Auctions of the Special Subsurface Permits

On September 7, 2007 President Yuschenko signed decree No. 829/2007
suspending the April 4, 2007 resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 611
which established procedures for issuance of special subsurface permits
(mineral, oil and gas deposits; medicinal sources).

Resolution No. 611, in part, provided that special permits be awarded
through an auction to the highest bidder.  That bidder was required to pay
for the permit within 30 days of winning the auction.  If the highest bidder
fails to pay, the second highest bidder would become the winner.

 In his decree suspending the resolution, the President explained that the
auction procedure could lead to abuses.  For example, if two or more bidders
collude with the intention to acquire the permit at a low price and the
highest bidder would fail to pay, the permit would have to be issued at a
lower bidding price.

The President also asked the Constitutional Court of Ukraine to decide
whether Resolution No. 611 complies with the Constitution of Ukraine.

Currently it is unclear which if any procedures are effective in the
issuance of the subsurface permits.  Normally the Cabinet of Ministers would
issue procedural guidelines to be effective for the current year.  However,
given the Presidential decree at issue, no procedures  arguably exist at
present.
[3] IMPORT/EXPORT
The Ministry of Economics of Ukraine Imposes Additional Re-export
Permit Requirements

In an apparent move to further regulate import and export to avoid
increasing inflation, on September 17, 2007, the Ministry of Economics
According issued Order No. 309 on September 17, 2007, requiring permits
for re-export of: (i) oil or oil products from bituminous materials of
foreign origin; (ii) natural gas of foreign origin; (iii) cattle and sheep as well
as their leather of Ukrainian origin.

Prior to this Order the re-export of oil or oil products from bituminous
materials and natural gas of foreign origin already required a permit.
While the new procedures add additional categories to the list of
commodities requiring permits, it somewhat clarifies the procedures for the
issuance of the permits.
[4] INTERNATIONAL TREATIES
Ukraine Accedes to the June 3, 1999 Protocol to the International Rail
Transport Convention

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the June 3, 1999 Protocol
amending the International Rail Transport Convention will be effective as to
Ukraine as of November 1, 2007.
[5] TAXATION
State Tax Administration Requires Banks to Collect Taxes on Uncollected
Secured Loans

In its letter No. 8465/6/17-0716, dated September 4, 2007, the State Tax
Administration (STA) instructed the banks to act as tax agents for
defaulting secured loans.

If an individual borrower defaults on a secured obligation including a
mortgage, the unpaid loan amount is deemed to be the personal income
of the individual.

If the collateral is sold or the bank obtains the ownership of the
collateral, the bank is required to withhold and pay to the treasury the
borrower's income tax and to file a tax return with the authorities.

Under the Ukrainian tax regime, payors act as tax withholding agents for
individual taxpayers in an attempt to limit the ability of individual
taxpayers to evade taxes.  Accordingly, the letter does not impose new
obligations on the banks but rather clarifies the withholding procedure.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTE: This legislative news update has been prepared solely as a
service to business and investment community and does not constitute
legal advice. Gene M. Burd is a member in the law firm Marks Sokolov
and Burd, LLC and the head of it representative office in Kyiv.  He was
born in Ukraine and was educated in the United States where he also
practices law.

Marks & Sokolov, LLC (operating in Ukraine as Marks Sokolov and
Burd, LLC) is a boutique law firm known for its ability to handle
complex litigation and commercial work in countries around the world
including the U.S., Russia and Ukraine. The firm has offices in
Philadelphia, Moscow, and Kiev. [www.marks-sokolov.com]
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9.  U.S. FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD APPROVES STATE EXPORT-
IMPORT BANK OF UKRAINE TO SET UP REP OFFICE IN NY

Federal Reserve Board, Washington, D.C., Friday, August 17, 2007

WASHINGTON - The Federal Reserve Board on Friday announced the
approval of an application by The State Export-Import Bank of Ukraine,
Kiev, Ukraine, to establish a representative office in New York, New York.

Attached is the Order relating to this action. Attachment (27 KB PDF):
http://www.federalreserve.gov/BoardDocs/Press/orders/2007/20070817/attachment.pdf
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.federalreserve.gov/BoardDocs/Press/orders/2007/20070817/default.htm
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FOOTNOTE:  The State Export-Import Bank of Ukraine, with total
consolidated assets of approximately $3.7 billion, is the sixth largest
commercial bank in Ukraine and provides wholesale and retail banking
services through a network of domestic branches. The bank is wholly
owned by the government of Ukraine and operates as a commercial bank
in addition to promoting trade by and with Ukrainian companies.
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10.  THE STATE EXPORT-IMPORT BANK OF UKRAINE, U.S. REP
OFFICE, JOINS THE U.S.-UKRAINE BUSINESS COUNCIL (USUBC)

U.S.-Ukraine Business Council (USUBC)
Washington, D.C., Friday, October 26, 2007

WASHINGTON - The Executive Committee of the U.S.-Ukraine
Business Council (USUBC) has just approved The State Export-
Import Bank of Ukraine, U.S. representative office, as the forty-eighth
member of the USUBC according to Morgan Williams, SigmaBleyzer,
president of the USUBC.

The State Export-Import Bank of Ukraine (JSC Ukreximbank) was
approved in August of 2007, by the U.S. Federal Reserve Board, to
establish a representative office in New York. Victor Kapustin serves
as Chairman of the Board of the bank.

The USUBC met recently in New York with Igor Obozintsev,
Advisor to the Chairman of the Board, The State Export-Import Bank
of Ukraine, who will be operating the New York representative office.

Nickolay N. Oudovichenko, Deputy Chairman of the Board, met
with USUBC members last week in Washington. He was a member of
Ukraine's economic and business team attending the meetings of the
World Bank and the IMF.

Joint-stock company "The State Export-Import Bank of Ukraine" is
the state-owned bank with the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine owning
100% of its shares, thus being its sole founder and shareholder.

In treating shareholders' rights and issues of control, transparency and
enhanced efficiency, the bank adheres to the corporate governance
principles.

Adherence to the above principles enables the bank management, its
Supervisory Council and the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine to jointly
define and tackle the pressing tasks in ensuring dynamic development
of the bank as well as in enhancing its significance as one of the key
forces supporting foreign trade activities of the Ukrainian industries.
Today JSC "The State Export-Import Bank of Ukraine" is:
1] a bank with 100% state-owned shares, one of the major and most
     profitable operators in the Ukrainian banking market;
[2] a financial institution servicing a considerable proportion of export
     and import activities effected by Ukrainian enterprises;
[3] the sole agent of the Government of Ukraine in handling
     intergovernment credit lines;
[4] a partner of the World Bank under the largest Export Development
     Project in Ukraine and a partner of KfW under Small and Medium
     Enterprises Program;
[5] a bank recognised by about 30 primary Export Credit Agencies as
     a direct borrower/guarantor on medium and long term financing;
[6] a bank with the widest amidst the Ukrainian banks foreign network
     of correspondent and counterpart banks;
[7] a bank possessing the most long-standing experience in the Ukrainian
     market in documentary business and trade finance, having about 80
     clear credit lines available from major foreign banks;
[8] a bank with a well developed branch network embracing all main
     regions and industrial centers of Ukraine;
[9] recognized by JP Morgan Chase bank for the fifth consecutive year as
     one of the best amongst its correspondent banks worldwide in quality
     of the USD settlements in 2004, and acknowledged respectively by
     Deutsche Bank AG with regard to EURO-denominated settlements in
     Ukraine;
[10] a clearing bank for the MASTER CARD INTERNATIONAL INC.
     payment system in Ukraine;
[11] the first Ukrainian bank to have performed successfully in the
international syndicated loan market since 1997.

The bank can work with U.S. companies operating in Ukraine in terms
of trade finance, loans and equity investments.  For further information
check: http://www.eximb.com.
26TH NEW MEMBER FOR THE USUBC IN 2007
The State Export-Import Bank of Ukraine is the 26th new member for the
U.S.-Ukraine Business Council (USUBC) in the last ten months and
brings the Council's total membership to forty-eight.   
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11. UKREXIMBANK TO SUPPORT UKRAINIAN EXPORTERS IN U.S.

Interfax Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, October 15, 2007

KYIV - Kyiv-based OJSC State Export-Import Bank of Ukraine
(Ukreximbank), through its representative office in New York, plans to
establish business relations between large Ukrainian companies and
foreign partners, according to a bank press release issued on October 15.

"The work of the Ukreximbank's representative office in New York will be
aimed at strengthening the presence of the financial institution in the
United States, promoting the interests of domestic companies on the U.S.
and international markets, and strengthening cooperation between Ukraine
and the United States," reads the release, citing Ukreximbank Board
Chairman Viktor Kapustin.

According to the release, on October 10, 2007, Ukreximbank received
permission to create a representative office of the bank in the United
States from the National Bank of Ukraine's commission for surveillance and
regulation of banking activities: all registration procedures needed for the
bank to fulfill representative functions in New York have been completed.

Ihor Obozintsev was appointed head of the bank's representative office in
New York. According to the release, in August, the bank received permission
to open a representative office in New York from the U.S. Federal Reserve
System.

Ukreximbank was founded in 1992. It is a fully state-owned bank. According
to the NBU, as of July 1, 2007, the bank ranked 5th among operating
Ukrainian banks in terms of total assets.
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12.  KRAFT FOODS UKRAINE TO OPEN REPRESENTATION
OFFICE IN BELARUS THIS YEAR

Interfax-Ukraine Business, Kyiv, Ukraine, August 22, 2007

KYIV - CJSC Kraft Foods Ukraine, Ukraine's largest confectionery producer,
is to open a representative office in Belarus by the end of the year.  As
the company said in a press release,the company previously supplied products
to Belarus via distributors.

George Logush,the managing director of Kraft Foods Ukraine,believes that
opening the representative office in Belarus will allow the company to
receive quality information about the Belarus market and its potential, to
better understand needs and tastes of the consumer,and have an opportunity
to cooperate with authorities and government agencies.

Currently, Kraft Foods Ukraine has a representative office on Moldova. The
company is also engaged in active exports of produce to Georgia, Armenia,
Azerbaijan and Russia.

Kraft Foods Ukraine has been operating on the Ukrainian market since 1994.
It incorporates the Trostianets-based Ukraina chocolate factory and a
Vyshgorod facility for the production of potato chips and snacks and packing
instant coffee.
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13.  AES KYIVOBLENERHO REELECTS STEVEN WALSH
AS SUPERVISORY BOARD CHAIRMAN

Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, October 26, 2007

KYIV - The shareholders of the AES Kyivoblenerho, a power-supplying
company based in Kyiv, at the meeting on October 23 reelected Steven
Walsh as supervisory board chairman.

Thus reads the statement of the company, the text of which Ukrainian News
has obtained. Walsh has held the post of the supervisory board chairman from
June 2006. The renewed supervisory board also included again director on law
issues of the AES Kyivoblenerho Yurii Vakhel.

As Ukrainian News earlier reported, on late October AES Kyivoblenerho
dismissed Ihor Serheev as a member of the supervisory board and appointed
Natalia Lysa to the post.

In 2006, AES Kyivoblenerho received a net profit of UAH 78.909 million,
raising its revenues by 23.96%, or UAH 173.755 million, to UAH 898.818
million, as compared to 2005.

In 2001, AES Washington Holdings B.V. (the Netherlands) purchased 75%+1
share in each Kyivoblenerho and Rivneoblenerho. Later, the companies were
renamed as AES Kyivoblenerho and AES Rivneenerho.

AES Corporation runs 113 energy generating facilities and 17 energy
distribution companies in 27 countries.
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14.  INTERNATIONAL EXPERTS INSPECTING WESTINGHOUSE
FUEL AT UKRAINE'S YUZHNOUKRAINSK NUCLEAR POWER PLANT

Interfax Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, Oct 31, 2007

KYIV - An international group of experts has carried out a regular
inspection of an experimental batch of nuclear fuel produced by U.S.-based
Westinghouse, which has been carrying out checks of the core of the
Yuzhnoukrainsk nuclear plant's third reactor since August 2005, said the
press service of NJSC Energoatom, the operator of Ukraine's NPPs, on
Wednesday.

"Almost all of these six nuclear fuel assemblies were inspected today, they
look normal and can continue to be use," reads a press release quoting
Volodymyr Krasnorutsky, the director of the Kharkiv-based Center for
projecting active zones and one of the experts.

According to Energoatom, along with carrying out visual inspections of the
nuclear fuel assemblies during the checks, the experts will include in their
report on the nuclear fuel information on the operating characteristics
recorded over the past year of the assemblies' use. Inspection measures are
planned during the regular loading of nuclear fuel assemblies into the
reactor's core.

As was reported, Energoatom and Westinghouse in 2000 launched a project on
the certification of nuclear fuel produced by the U.S. company. The project
will be summed up in 2013. If successful, Ukraine will have a potential U.S.
alternative to Russia as a supplier of nuclear fuel.
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[return to index] [U.S.-Ukraine Business Council Monitoring Service]
========================================================
Ukraine Monthly Macroeconomic Report From SigmaBleyzer:
http://www.sigmableyzer.com/index.php?action=publications 
========================================================
15.  ROSNEFT & SHELL PREPARE FOR SIGNING OF NEW AGREEMENT

Kommersant, Kyiv, Ukraine, October 22, 2007

KYIV - Rosneft and Shell are preparing to sign a new agreement. It will
outline cooperation in the framework of the agreement on strategic
partnership signed by the companies in July in detail, reports a source
close to one of the companies.

Several sources acquainted with the course of negotiations confirm this
information. According to one of them, the relevant documents may be
signed this week.

The source explain that the agreement deals with a possibility of
cooperation of the companies in geological exploration and production of
oil onshore in Russia. The agreement will be of a framework type and will
not include a list of certain fields.

First of all, Rosneft is interested in the technologies of Shell. A week
ago, Vice President of Rosneft Mikhail Stavsky said that Rosneft was
studying the possibility of using the technologies of Shell and
ConocoPhillips for production of heavy oil at the Severo-Komsomolskoe
field with reserves of 30 million tons.

In their agreement signed in July, Rosneft and Shell speak about the
possibility of joint participation in projects for oil exploration,
production and refining, as well as in marketing of petroleum products in
Russia and outside of it.

The agreement makes provisions for signing additional agreements dealing
with each segment. Representatives of Rosneft and Shell refuse to comment
on signing the new agreement.
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16.  SALANS ADVISES FRENCH COMPANY AXA IN ACQUISITION
OF MAJORITY STAKE IN THE SHARE CAPITAL OF VESKO

Salans, Kyiv, Ukraine, August 9, 2007

KYIV - Salans has recently advised AXA, a French based international
insurance group, in the acquisition of the majority stake in the share
capital of Vesko.

AXA, which is one of the largest insurance groups in the world, and its
partner in this transaction UkrSibBank, the Ukrainian banking subsidiary of
BNP Paribas, have reached end of July an agreement to acquire 99% of the
share capital of Vesko.

The transaction, which is still subject to regulatory approvals, is expected
to be completed by the end of 2007.

Vesko is the 6th largest P&C insurer in Ukraine.  Following acquisition of
Ukrainian Insurance Alliance and Vesko, AXA will be one of the key players
on the insurance market in Ukraine.

A team of lawyers in various Salans offices led by Igor Mehedynyuk and
Oleg Batyuk from the Salans Kyiv office, represented AXA in this transaction.

Salans is a full services international law firm with 18 offices worldwide
advising its clients across a wide range of industries www.salans.com.
Salans was established in Paris in 1978 and has been active in Ukraine since
1988 and officially opened an office in Kyiv in 1992.

Salans is ranked among the top 50 law firms in the world by PLC Which
Lawyer?.  In 2007 Salans was shortlisted to win "The International Law Firm
of the Year" from The Lawyer.  Salans is ranked as a top tier law firm in
Ukraine and globally by the leading international legal directory The
Chambers.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTE:  Salans in October celebrated the 15th anniversary of their
office in Kyiv, Ukraine, 
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17.  DNIPROAVIA PLANS TO BUY TWO EMBRAER-145
AND TWO BOEING-737-500 AIRCRAFTS BY 2008

Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, September 27, 2007

KYIV - The Dniproavia airline company (Dnipropetrovsk) has plans to buy
two Embraer-145 and two Boeing-737-500 aircrafts by 2008. Ukrainian News
learned this from a company representative.

"We have plans to buy by the yearend," he said. Besides, the company plans
to purchase two Embraer-170 and Embraer-195 in 2008.

As Ukrainian News earlier reported, now Dniproavia fleet includes
Boeing-737-300 and Boeing-737-400, two Embraer-145, three YAK-42 and
two YAK-40. Dniproavia finished 2006 with a loss of UAH 30.407 million.

In 2006, the company boosted net revenues by 16.8% or by UAH 18.069
million over 2005, to UAH 125.297 million.

Dniproavia Airlines, an open joint-stock company, was created on the basis
of the Dniproavia state company in 1996.

Dniproavia operates regular flights from Dnipropetrovsk to Kyiv, Moscow,
Odesa, Istanbul, and Vienna. It also operates charter flights and transports
cargoes. It is one of the five largest airline companies in Ukraine.
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18.  BROADBAND ACCESS MARKET UP 77% IN Q3 2007, TO $70M
Ukrtelecom, Volia Cable, Datagroup, SigmaBleyzer

Interfax Ukraine Economic, Thursday, November 1, 2007

KYIV - The volume of revenues from broadband access services in Ukraine
in July through September 2007 was over $70 million, which is 77% up
year-on-year.

According to an iKS Consulting company report, there is a tendency on the
market for an increase in the number of private broadband access
subscribers.

According to the company, by the end of September 2007, there were over
630,000 broadband access subscribers in Ukraine, and the saturation level is
3.6%.

As iKS Consulting reported, during the period under review, the market
leader changed, with OJSC Ukrtelecom overtaking CJSC Volia-Cable.

At the same time, Volia-Cable remained the leader in the segment of private
subscribers, and also leads in the number of subscribers in Kyiv alone.
According to iKS Consulting, only four operators had over 20,000 customers
in Q3 2007.

The company also noted that the market was showing consolidation tendencies.
The most active consolidators on the market were CJSC Datagroup and
SigmaBleyzer investment company (the owner of CJSC Volia-Cable.)
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19.  UKRAINIAN CARGO AIRWAYS (UCA) NEGOTIATES
PURCHASE OF TWO CARGO PLANES FROM BOEING

Interfax - Ukraine Business, Kyiv, Ukraine, September 25, 2007

KYIV - Ukrainian Defense Ministry state enterprise Ukrainian Cargo
Airways (UCA) is holding talks with the Boeing corporation on purchasing
two cargo planes,UCA president Vitaliy Popov told journalists during a
press conference last week.

According to him,the company needs the planes to secure Ukraine's
participation in NATO and UN programs that have special requirements
that Ukrainian planes cannot meet.

According to Popov,UCA is taking part in a tender for the UN for
transporting troops in Sudan. The company is also developing a program
for the modernization of Il-76 planes used in Ukraine,which will extend
their working life by about 30 years.
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20.  US-UKRAINE BUSINESS COUNCIL HOSTS MEETING WITH
MINISTER OF ECONOMY ANATOLIY KINAKH IN WASHINGTON

U.S.-Ukraine Business Council (USUBC)
Washington, DC, Monday, October 22, 2007

WASHINGTON - The U.S.-Ukraine Business Council (USUBC) hosted a
breakfast meeting with Ukraine's Minister of Economy, Anatoliy Kinakh,
and Mykola Udovychenko, Deputy Chairman of the Board of The State
Export-Import Bank of Ukraine, in Washington, DC on Friday, October
19, 2007, in Washington.

Also attending the meeting from Ukraine were Dr. Viktor Sheybut, Head of
the Group  of Advisors to the Vice Prime Minister and Sergiy M. Makatsariya,
Deputy Minister of Finance, both members of Ukraine's delegation the World
Bank/ IMF meetings.

The State Export-Import Bank of Ukraine has just opened a representative
office in New York City.  Morgan Williams, SigmaBleyzer; President of the
USUBC, announced that the Ex-Im Bank, through its representative office,
will become the forty-eighth member of the USUBC.

In addition to remarks by Kinakh and Udovychenko, the meeting included
presentations by Anders Aslund, Peterson Institute for International
Economics and Edilberto Segura, SigmaBleyzer Private Investment Group/
The Bleyzer Foundation.

Minister Kinakh called for intensive dialogue between Ukrainian and foreign
businessmen. He cited continued positive trends in this country's economy.

Among crucial steps for Ukraine in the near future, the minister stressed
the importance of Ukraine's entry into the WTO by the end of 2007 and to
continue discussions of a framework agreement with the European Union.

Kinakh stated that Ukraine is deeply integrated into European economic
system and noted that Ukraine's external trade turnover with European
countries amounts to 30% -- higher than with Russia  (26%).

Mr Kinakh also said that the growth of machine building exports also is
growing. These and many other facts testify to the huge potential of
Ukrainian economy.

Addressing the need for structural reforms, Minister Kinakh cited some
of the steps undertaken by the current government. He said that the cabinet
has approved a draft tax code, which now must be approved by the
parliament.

Minister Kinakh noted that harmonization of this sphere with the EU
standards is one of the corner stones for establishing a Free Trade Area
between Ukraine and the European Community.

Minister Kinakh also spoke on land reform in Ukraine, stressing that it has
been six years since a new land code was adopted. Kinakh called for
transparent privatization, and stressed that he strongly opposes moratorium
on land sales. Mr Kinakh also called for the improvement of legislation to
attract foreign investment.

In his closing remarks minister Kinakh said that structural reforms are
needed without delay, as poor government  efficiency and bad public
management do not "correspond  to strong intellectual potential of Ukrainian
people."

In his remarks, Udovychenko emphasized the high quality performance of his
bank.  He said that Ukreximbank  has maintained leading positions among
Ukrainian banks  and looks forward to further cooperation with foreign
businessmen.

Udovichenko also stressed that Ukreximbank is highly respected in the
world.  Agreements concluded by Ukreximbank in the international capital
markets have attracted about $1.0 billion of long-term financial resources
to projects the Ukrainian economy.

Segura and Aslund also emphasized Ukraine's positive economic outlook.
Aslund called the future government of Ukraine to continue carrying out
necessary reforms and fight corruption. Segura stated massive governmental
reorganization was necessary for Ukraine to gain the capacity to develop,
introduce and implement needed economic and business reforms.

Aslund stressed also that most political parties in Ukraine have European
programs, and, in his opinion, Ukraine currently is experiencing a
transformation from political parties based on the country's regions to
parties based on social class. 

Some of the companies and organizations represented at the meeting were
Global Trade Development; U.S. State Department; Export-Import Bank
of the US; Cisco Systems; Vanco Energy Corporation; Rand Corporation;
Overseas Private Investment Corporation; Case-New Holland; U.S.-Ukraine
Foundation; Office the Vice President; Heller & Rosenblatt; Embassy of
Poland; BBC Ukrainian Service; U.S. Commerce Department; RULG-
Ukrainian Legal Group; U.S. Civilian Research and Development Foundation;
Center for Strategic and International Studies; Cargill; Boeing; SigmaBleyzer
Private Equity Group; Center for International Private Enterprise; Oracle;
SASI; Embassy of Ukraine and Westinghouse. LINK: www.usubc.org 
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21.  NEW UKRAINIAN PARLIAMENT URGED TO PURSUE ENERGY
EFFICIENCY/SUSTAINABLE ENERGY DEVELOPMENT TO PROTECT
NATIONAL SECURITY & ACHIEVE ENERGY INDEPENDENCE

Ukrainian-American Environmental Association (UAEA)
Rivne, Ukraine/Washington, D.C., Thursday, October 25, 2007
 
RIVNE, Ukraine/WASHINGTON, DC - In a letter delivered today to
the leaders of the five political parties expected to constitute the next
Ukrainian Parliament, the Ukrainian-American Environmental Association
(UAEA) urged that "energy security and sustainable energy development
[be made] top priorities."

UAEA suggested that "it is technically and economically feasible for
Ukraine to achieve independence from energy imports within a timeframe
far shorter than that envisioned by [Ukraine's] National Energy
Strategy.  [In fact,] if Ukraine brought its levels of energy
consumption per unit of GDP just down to the world average, it could
eliminate most and possibly all of its energy imports."

The letter further noted that "Ukraine could be meeting a significant
share of its supply needs in the relatively near future from the mix of
renewable energy technologies.  Ukraine may have the best biomass
resources in all of Europe as well as one of the best offshore wind
regimes on the continent.  It also has significant, but largely
untapped, geothermal and small hydropower resources as well as
modest solar energy potential."

The letter concluded that "a national energy strategy based on vastly
improved energy efficiency, substantial increases in renewable energy
development, and a shift to domestic supplies of fossil fuels could
make Ukraine energy self-sufficient in a relatively short time.

Moreover, such an approach would enable Ukraine to re-evaluate its
current emphasis on nuclear power expansion, which we believe to be an
unnecessarily expensive and environmentally dangerous course of
action." The complete text of the letter follows:

October 25, 2007
Leader - Block of Yulia Timoshenko, Y. V. Timoshenko
Leader - Block of Peoples Self-Defense, Y. V. Lytsenko
Leader - Party of Regions, Prime Minister of Ukraine V. F. Yanukovich
Leader - Block of Lytvyn, V. M. Lytvyn
Leader - Communist Party of Ukraine, P. M. Symonenko

Dear Sirs/Madam:

As you prepare to convene the newly-reconstituted Rada and government,
we are writing to urge that you stress energy security and sustainable
energy development as top priorities.  The importance of these issues
was once again made apparent by Gazprom's threat to reduce natural gas
supplies the day after Ukraine's elections.

We believe that it is technically and economically feasible for Ukraine
to achieve independence from energy imports within a timeframe far
shorter than that envisioned by the National Energy Strategy.  And we
believe that a national energy program that emphasizes improved energy
efficiency and renewable energy development could yield major economic
as well as national security benefits for Ukraine.

Inasmuch as the Ukrainian economy is among the most energy-intensive -
but also the most energy wasteful - in the world, we believe that a far
more aggressive campaign to improve energy efficiency in industry,
transportation, agriculture, buildings, and government should be the
top priority. 
 
In theory, at least, if Ukraine brought its levels of energy consumption
per unit of GDP just down to the world average, it could eliminate most
and possibly all of its energy imports.  If Ukraine further improved its
energy efficiency to the levels of either the United States or the European
Union, it could actually become a net energy producer.

We also believe that Ukraine could be meeting a significant share of
its supply needs in the relatively near future from the mix of
renewable energy technologies.  Ukraine may have the best biomass
resources in all of Europe as well as one of the best offshore wind
regimes on the continent. 
 
It also has significant, but largely untapped, geothermal and small
hydropower resources as well as modest solar energy potential.  The
European Union is striving to meet 20 percent of its energy needs
from renewables by 2020; there is no reason why Ukraine could not
be striving for a comparable goal rather than be satisfied with the 2-3
percent it now derives from these sources.

Finally, we believe that supply needs that cannot be offset by energy
efficiency improvements or met with renewable energy sources can be
largely satisfied by increased domestic production of natural gas, oil,
and coal.  While concerns about climate change and greenhouse gas
emissions from fossil fuels suggest that total energy consumption from
these sources should be reduced from current levels, it is possible to
displace natural gas and oil imports with domestic sources to meet
legitimate needs.

In total, a national energy strategy based on vastly improved energy
efficiency, substantial increases in renewable energy development, and
a shift to domestic supplies of fossil fuels could make Ukraine energy
self-sufficient in a relatively short time.  Moreover, such an approach
would enable Ukraine to re-evaluate its current emphasis on nuclear
power expansion, which we believe to be an unnecessarily expensive and
environmentally dangerous course of action.

During the coming year, the Ukrainian-American Environmental
Association is planning to issue a series of a dozen or more short
studies (perhaps one per month beginning in early 2008) that will
assess the status and potential of energy efficiency and renewable
energy options in Ukraine.  The papers will also draw upon the
experience of the United States and the European Union for particularly
effective policy strategies that may be transferable to Ukraine.

We will be happy to share these materials with you and work with you to
develop effective policies to promote a sustainable energy future for
Ukraine and to meet its energy, environmental, economic, and national
security needs.

Sincerely, Taras Lychuk, Ken Bossong
Co-Directors, Ukrainian-American Environmental Association
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTE: The Ukrainian-American Environmental Association is a private,
non-governmental organization founded in 2004 and chartered in both the
United States and Ukraine.  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UKRAINIAN-AMERICAN  ENVIRONMENTAL  ASSOCIATION
Ukraine Address: 11 Strutynska Street, #18; Rivne, Ukraine 33003;
+38 068 569-5137; U.S.A. Address: 8606 Greenwood Avenue, #2;
Takoma Park, MD 20912; +1 (301) 588-4741
e-mail:  ua_ea@yahoo.com; URL:  http://www.ua-ea.org
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22.  PHILLY LAW FIRM LAUNCHES BRANCH OFFICE IN UKRAINE

By Dariya Orlova, Kyiv Post, Kyiv, Ukraine, Thu, Oct 25 2007

The Philadelphia-based law firm of Marks & Sokolov has teamed with a
Ukrainian-born US lawyer to open an office in Kyiv. Marks, Sokolov &
Burd is the firm's second foreign office following one in Moscow. The
firm began working with Ukrainian clients in 2004.

"We have represented Ukrainian interests in purchasing major metal plants in
the US, and Western companies, in substantial, worldwide litigation arising
from their Ukrainian business dealings. We look forward to doing more," said
Bruce Marks, the firm's founder and managing director, who has also served
as a Republican state senator from Pennsylvania.

"With the economic growth and political changes in Ukraine, we just felt
it's quite appropriate for us to extend to Ukraine as well," said Ukrainian-born,
US-trained attorney Gene M. Burd, managing director of the Kyiv office.

"We are distinct from many law firms that work here in that one of our
specialties is international litigation and arbitration. Our firm has been
involved in major litigation relating to privatization and shareholder
conflicts both in Russia and Ukraine," Burd said.

"There are views that the Ukrainian legal market is saturated, but when you
come here and start speaking with people, potential clients, you find that
many of them are unsatisfied with the services lawyers provide," explained
Burd. The lawyer noted that many local companies lack client-handling
skills, while services of Western firms are frequently overpriced.
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LINK: http://www.kyivpost.com/business/general/27660/
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23.  SOFTLINE WORKS OUT NEW WEB-PORTAL FOR
UKRAINE'S STATE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE

Ukrainian News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, November 2, 2007

KYIV - Kyiv-based Softline software producer has worked out new interactive
web-portal to the State Employment Service www.trud.gov.ua. Softline press
service disclosed this to Ukrainian News.

The portal was worked out for professional recruiting and search of jobs in
Ukraine. It is integrated with the largest national database of the State
Employment Service of Ukraine.

The users will be able to watch for vacancies, create own CVs on the website
and subscribe for spread of new vacancies sorted in professions and touching
upon different sectors.

The visitors can use analytical materials, news and employment publications,
and information about companies-employers. The companies can place their
vacancies free of charge. The previous website of the state service
www.dcz.gov.ua is also available.

As Ukrainian News earlier reported, in September, Softline modernized the
website of the State Employment Service. The website was designed by the
Softline Company in 2003.

Websites of the regional employment centers integrated in State Employment
Service portal have also been commissioned. In 2006, Internet-portal of the
State Employment Service is used by over 52,000 people, which is twice more
than in 2005.
 
Softline was created in 1995 and is the producer of software for automation
of business. The company is controlled by SigmaBleyzer international
investment company.
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24.  U.S.-UKRAINE BUSINESS COUNCIL LAUNCHES ITS
NEW WEBSITE WWW.USUBC.ORG
WITH NEW LOGO

U.S.-Ukraine Business Council (USUBC)
Washington, D.C. Monday, November 5, 2007

WASHINGTON - The U.S.-Ukraine Business Council (USUBC)
has launched its new website: www.usubc.org.

The new website was created for the USUBC by Oleksiy
Synelnychenko, Communications and Finance Administration, at
the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation (USUF).  Oleksiy has designed several
websites for USUF.  The website shows the new USUBC logo also
designed by Mr. Synelnychenko.
 
ECdata Inc., a long-time member of USUBC, will also be providing
assistance in the future development of the website. Eric Candle
is president of ECdata, Inc. ECdata, Inc. will develop a data base
capacity and also a members-only section.

USUBC members are encouraged to look over the website, send
USUBC information to add to the site and send in their suggestions
and comments.  Additional material will be added to the site in the
near future.
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25.  UKRAINE CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY BULLETIN
New CRS Bulletin: Eurasia Foundation, Telenor, Softline and USAID

U.S.-Ukraine Business Council (USUBC)
Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, November 5, 20007

KYIV - The new Ukraine CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) Bulletin
is brought to you by the Eurasia Foundation in partnership with Telenor
in Ukraine, Softline and USAID. 

The CRS Bulletin brings you the latest news about what business companies
in Ukraine are doing in the social responsibility area.

Companies working in Ukraine are increasingly trying to improve respond
to demand for more effective corporate social responsibility.

More and more companies are devoting resources and personnel to
community engagement and CSR reporting.

Some leading companies have established partnerships with community
groups and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and other companies
have established corporate foundations to engage the community in more
effective ways.

There are many very interesting, creative and productive projects underway
sponsored by businesses in Ukraine.

For more information on what companies are doing, see the CSR Bulletin
archives at http://www.csrukraine.org.ua/archives.htm.

Please send in information about what your company is doing. Send 
your CSR News to csrbulletin@eurasia.kiev.ua.  You can also e-mail
Courtney Calvin, Regional Communications Coordinator, for the Eurasia
Foundation at ccalvin@eurasia.kiev.ua.  She's based in Kyiv.

To sign-up to receive the new CRS Bulletin go to:
http://visitor.constantcontact.com/email.jsp?&m=1101749892700
or http://www.csrukraine.org.ua/contact.htm.
 
The Eurasia Foundation is a member of the U.S.-Ukraine Business
Council (USUBC).  Softline is a software development company
whose controlling interest is owned by one of the private equity
investment funds managed by SigmaBleyzer, also a member of the
U.S.-Ukraine Business Council (USUBC).
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For more information, please visit www.csrukraine.org.ua.
Eurasia Foundation Kyiv Regional Office
55 Velyka Vasylkivska, 3rd floor Kyiv, 03150 Ukraine
Phones: +380 (44) 200-38-24; +380 (44) 200-38-25
+380 (44) 200-38-26; +380 (44) 200-38-27
LINK: www.eurasia.kiev.ua
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========================================================
26.  EURASIA FOUNDATION AND OSCE INVEST IN SIX NEW
RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN UKRAINE

Eurasia Foundation, Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, September 28, 2007

KYIV, Ukraine - The Eurasia Foundation (EF) and the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Ukraine awarded six new
projects to support small and medium enterprise growth in Poltava, Odesa
and Zaporizhzhia  oblasts as part of the fourth phase of their joint program,
Local Economic Development (LEAD).

Since 2003, EF and OSCE have invested in 24 projects and provided related
technical assistance in 14 oblasts and the Autonomous Republic of Crimea
through this initiative, which is co-funded by OSCE and USAID. Descriptions
of the recently awarded projects follow:

[1] 'Heifer Project International -Ukraine' will generate new job
opportunities and stimulate small business growth in the animal husbandry
industry of rural areas in Odesa oblast.

The grantee will train and consult three farm cooperatives to improve meat
and dairy production, business management, and adopt the latest industry
technologies. This project will create new jobs and improve the
profitability of animal husbandry in the region.

[2] The Izmail Foundation for Entrepreneurs Support will help unemployed
individuals in Bolhrad, Izmail and Kiliya districts in Odesa oblast through
job-skills training and support to small businesses.

The grantee will train individuals in traditional folk arts and craft-making
techniques and create a database of craftsmen.

They will develop promotional materials and organize exhibition fairs and an
online retail store to market their products. This project will help
establish new handicraft businesses and make existing ones more profitable.

[3] The Khortytsia Rayon Union of Entrepreneurs, "Porada" will foster
economic growth through small business development in Zaporizhzhia oblast.

The grantee will survey and compile a database of production enterprises in
select cities and regions of the oblast, and analyze relevant legislation to
determine the major impediments to entrepreneurial development.

Based on the results of this research, the grantee will recommend ways to
improve the process start and develop production enterprises.

The project will also support three new business clubs that will unite
managers of production enterprises, providing them with opportunities to
develop new skills, acquire information and establish new business contacts.

This project will provide a wide range of support to start-up and existing
small business entrepreneurs while helping to create new businesses and
jobs.

[4] The Rural Development and Legal Assistance Center in Odesa oblast will
encourage economic growth by supporting small business development in
Velyka Myhailivka, Ivanivka and Rozdilna districts.

The grantee will develop a training program specially-tailored to
registering and operating small businesses, provide consulting services to
entrepreneurs, and publish strong business models. This project will support
local entrepreneurs, helping to create new businesses and jobs.

[5] The Regional fund for Entrepreneurship Support in Poltava Region will
foster economic growth through small business development in the Dykanka,
Karlivka and Poltava districts of Poltava oblast.

The grantee will use various means to support to new and existing
entrepreneurs in rural tourism, agriculture, and communal services.

The grantee will provide small business owners with educational
opportunities, consulting services and market research. This project will
help make existing small and medium enterprises more effective and
profitable, as well as help establish new businesses.

[6] The Poltava Business Development Center will support organic farming in
Velyka Bahachka, Lubny, Semenivka, Khorol, and Poltava districts in Poltava
oblast.

The grantee will identify agricultural enterprises willing to pursue organic
farming and help them convert to organic production. This project will
increase the number of organic farms in the region and support to organic
farming entrepreneurs.

For more information on these program, please contact Elena Sayenko,
Program Manager at (+38-044) 200-3825, or es@eurasia.kiev.ua.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Eurasia Foundation is a privately managed non-profit organization
supported by the U.S. government and other public and private donors. Since
1992, the Eurasia Foundation has invested more than $290 million in US
government funds and nearly $80 million in leveraged and raised non-US
government funds through over 8,400 grants and technical assistance projects
in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic,
Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. For more
information, please visit: www.eurasia.kiev.ua.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LINK: http://www.eurasia.kiev.ua/eng/newss/index.php?sub_part=15&o=119
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27.  UKRAINE: ALICO AIG LIFE INS CO AND OTP BANK
INTRODUCE DEPOSITS WITH FUNDED INSURANCE
OF CHILDREN'S LIVES

Pavlo Kharlamov, Ukrainain News Agency, Kyiv, Ukraine, October 7, 2007

KYIV - The ALICO AIG Life insurance company (Kyiv) and one of
Ukraine's biggest OTP Bank have jointly introduced service of placing
deposits with funded insurance of children's lives. The bank made this
statement.

Deposit accounts can be opened by physical entities who place money
funds for children and act as their insurers. Deposit currency is euros or
dollars, insurance currency is hryvnias; minimum amount of deposit is
USD 4,500 or EUR 4,500.

When opening an account, depositors at once draw police of funded
insurance of children's lives and insure their own lives and ability to work
for the whole term of the deposit.

Term of the deposit and of the insurance policy is up to ten years and
insurance contributions are paid from the depositor's own funds for the
first year and then - for expense of interest for the deposit. After
attaining majority, a child has right to manage the financial funds
accumulated for this period.

As Ukrainian News earlier reported, as of July 1, 2007, OTP Bank's net
assets were valued at UAH 13,072.4 million; credit portfolio was valued at
UAH 11,789.9 million and own capital at UAH 1,027.2 million.

The bank ended January-June with a net profit of UAH 77.912 million. It
posted a net profit of UAH 320.284 million for 2006. OTP Bank was created
as Raiffeisenbank Ukraine by the Raiffeisen banking group in April 1998.

In May 2006, the Hungarian OTP Bank and Raiffeisen International agreed
on the purchase of Raiffeisenbank Ukraine for EUR 650 million and concluded
the deal in November 2006.  Later, the Hungarian OTP Bank renamed
Raiffeisenbank Ukraine into OTP Bank.

The ALICO AIG Life insurance company is registered as a closed joint-stock
company. United States-based American Life Insurance Company (ALICO)
owns 99.99% of the shares in the ALICO AIG Life insurance company.
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28.  AMCU AUTHORIZES CYPRUS' WJ HOLDING TO ACQUIRE
OVER 50% IN POLI-GRAIN AND KHLIB ZHYTOMYRSCHYNY

Viktoria Miroshnychenko, Ukrainian News Agency
Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, October 22, 2007

KYIV - The Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine (AMCU) has authorized WJ
Holding Limited (Cyprus) to acquire over 50% of the shares in the Kyiv-based
Poli-Grain Ltd and Vinnytsia-based Khlib Zhytomyrschyny Ltd.

Ukrainian News learned this from the AMCU press service.  The main activity
of WJ Holding Limited is investment operations.

Khlib Zhytomyrschyny provides services of acceptance, primary processing and
storage of grain crops in Vinnytsia region.
The Poli-Grain company is one of the Ukraine's major grain exporters. Its
core business is purchases and exports of grain and oil-yielding crops, and
sunflower oil.

In Ukraine the WJ group of companies has several companies, which deal in
trade of grain and oil-yielding crops, trans-shipment, storage and
transportation of farm crops.
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29.  U.S.-UKRAINE BUSINESS COUNCIL (USUBC) MEETS OPIC
OFFICIALS REGARDING OUTSTANDING ISSUE WITH UKRAINE
 
U.S.-Ukraine Business Council (USUBC)
Washington, D.C., Monday, October 15, 2007
 
WASHINGTON - Four representatives of USUBC, Jack Heller,
Charles Camp, Ulyana Panchishin and Morgan Williams met with 5
officials of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) last
week in Washington. 

Representing OPIC were:  Robert Mosbacher, Jr, President and
CEO; Dulce Zahniser, Chief of Staff; Brian Christaldi, Associate
General Counsel, Project Finance; Robert C. O'Cullivan, Associate
General Counsel, Insurance Claims; and Tara Blake, Senior
Investment Insurance Officer. 

President Mosbacher discussed several aspects of the OPIC claim
(1999) against Ukraine which has caused OPIC to close its program
for Ukraine...the background, the justification, the present status and
ideas on moving forward when there is a new government.  There
was then a discussion among the parties at the meeting about the
issues above.

The meeting was very positive and we all agreed to stay in touch
and meet again once there is a new government in place.  USUBC
is looking forward to working closely with OPIC, other officials
in the U.S. government and with the Ukrainian government regarding
ways to resolve the outstanding issue. 
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=======================================================
Publisher and Editor - USUBC Business Journal
Mr. E. Morgan Williams, Director, Government Affairs
Washington Office, SigmaBleyzer, The Bleyzer Foundation
Emerging Markets Private Equity Investment Group;
President, U.S.-Ukraine Business Council, Washington;
1701 K Street, NW, Suite 903, Washington, D.C. 20006
Tel: 202 437 4707; Fax: 202 223 1224