News
What can a tourist bring from Odessa?..
30.08.2007
If you are a tourist and would like to prove your friend that you truly have been in Odessa, then keep the straight and narrow path to Soborka or Primorskiy boulevard. Here enterprising odessites will sell you some exclusive knick-knackery, made by their skilful hands. It may have an inscription ???Odessa??? or ???Odessa 2007???. You can also find beautiful masterpieces or rarity with interesting stories. All south of Ukraine is flooded with white peak-caps as comrade Bender was wearing. Of course, this souvenir goes with splendid inscription ???Odessa??? too. By the way, between two famous sights of interest ?? Duke and Sea port ?? local photographers are ready in a moment to make a picture of you with one of exotic animals. They can also put your majestic face in some typical view of Odessa for other price. In case you desire, there is a possibility to buy unique T-shirt with Opera Theatre in front or, if you like, group of Odessa criminals. It is all up to you. You can even purchase tins with Odessa air inside. But if you have a spare hour and desire to find truly valuable things, you should spend it in Sobornaya Square. Almost each seller here is a crackjack.
However, the most bright memory of Odessa will be your tan, which will remind you about warm sun, wide beaches and handsome ladies. But unfortunately the tun can disappear as time goes by. That??s why you should better picture yourself with any sight of Odessa that had fascinated you most. But genuine experts say that the best memories of Odessa will leave our beautiful girls and warm conversations with locals. Finally, I can suggest you buying a bottle of Odessa champagne with its inimitable taste.
Statistics of investments
30.08.2007
Odessa is traditionally notable for its contacts on international level. During the first half year 2007 Odessa authorities were trying hard to create a positive image of the city, favorable for investments. It seems, that foreign investors had finally evaluated these efforts. Statistics say that most attractive spheres of Odessa became: an oil-refining industry the building construction and nonresidential construction activity the food industry trade and mediation in it real property business recreation and tourism An influx of foreign investments per one resident is 439 USD. An influx of foreign investments is continually increasing (to be precise its growth rate is 14,5%). This is an evidence of high trust of foreign partners. International relations of our city become stronger with each year and continue to develop. A consolidation of international ties will always remain the foreground task for our city. We are interested in the collaboration of Odessa business structures with foreign ones. The questions of further expansion of investment activities are regularly discussed during meeting with EBRR. It is planned to create a new European region near the Black sea, which will contribute much to the simplification of boundary and custom procedures for businessmen, students, journalists, will give an impulse for tourism development. Our city had already lunched such investment projects as the reconstruction of International Airport ???Odessa???, historical centre reconstruction and accommodations renewal in Moldavanka region.
Jobbers are on the retired list
30.08.2007
Today we can witness the redistribution of retail oil products market. Owners of filling stations, who worked under boards of huge oil companies, today found themselves standing at the crossroads. Former partners are not interested in cooperation any more, and jobbers continue either to work independently or sell their business.
Well arranged ties with suppliers, the quantity of not less than 30-40filling stations, business diversification at the expense of trade and attendant services ?? all these are conditions for survival on the market of small filling stations. The strategy of oil giants had changed. The majority of small stations figure on the development of own networks. Painted in bluish colors TNK??s, red ???Lucoil???s or green ???Neftegaz??? stations are working without familiar logotypes.
Only few years ago it was considered as prestigious to work with upright integrated companies, which extract and remake oil. The peak of popularity of jobbers contracts fell at 2001 and 2002 years. Numerous independent networks were obliged to save themselves, concluding contracts for regular oil supply by big player of oil market. This scheme was proposed first of all by Russian companies. For them it was the quickest way to consolidate their grip on Ukrainian market. All this we saw 5-6 years ago, when stoppages of oil supplies took place. As it was mentioned before, nowadays almost all companies try to create their own networks.
To find out an exact number of former jobbers is not an easy task. Operators say the figure between 4000 and 6000 filling stations. Approximately a third is presented by large-scale structures, each of which holds not less than 140 stations. All last are independent retailers, who prefer to keep aloof. The young ex-jobber company must negotiate about oil supplies. Though Ukrainian oil-processing factories avoid working with small networks as they give lots of trouble. If they were working under the brand of large firm, now filling stations should make re-branding. This procedure demands time and money. In addition, they have to fight for the quality and service. It has become noticeable to transform filling station into service complexes. This helps to receive higher income.
Not having an opportunity to carry business independently, jobbers are often forced to sell it. This had already done the filling station ???Ekoil??? - the former jobber of ???Naftogaz???. It was bought by ???WOG??? company. This step doesn??t contradict the strategy of ???WOG???; however company??s main goal is to form its own network under ???WOG??? brand. The further development of branch is connected with buying of working stations, or creating new ones. Among all oil-traders the jobbers network will preserve as it seems only ???TNK???. Jobbers do not have any difficulty, they can easily sell their business. The market is not saturated yet. An active conversion takes place today. The steady growth of motor transport, an increase in oil consuming make this branch enough attractive. This phase, according to businessmen forecast, will last about 5 years. At the end of this period the rash flow of foreign capital will happen. The first foreign guest on the market of oil retail trade is ???Shell??? company. The Ukrainian market is especially attractive for West European producers, who supply oil in Ukraine by wholesale.
Investments into building industry
30.08.2007
The building boom continues in Ukraine. And at the same time it is noticeable the tendency of investments growth in producing of raw material. The owners of enterprises prefer buying open-cast mines not to depend upon suppliers, and plan to earn from exporting raw materials. The last great investment was done by German company Knauf - building of own mine of gypsum stone in Ternopolskiy region. The company has spent 10 million dollars for project realization. This sum should be recompensed in 10 years. A half of stone quarried will be exported. The company had already created a modern mining complex there. On the other hand, an export of integrated products is not foreseen. In the future a new factory producing dry mixtures will be built. But Knauf is not the only firm which quarries gypsum stone. Her nearest rival is another international concern is French company Lafarge. They have own open-cast mine too in Artemovsk region. The stock volumes are about 140 million tones. This enough for several decades. Henkel Bautechnik also plans to open its own factory of dry mixtures and produce 220 000 tones of production annually. They are ready to invest 10 million euros. In spite of such solid investments, Ukrainian consumers should not expect prices to fall. Some regions of Ukraine have a shortage in construction materials and others have constant demand. We have a case, when increased supply won??t become stimulus for price rising. The total volume of gypsum stone deposits in Ukraine is 10 milliards. Most of them ate located in Artemovskiy, Doneckiy regions and Western Ukraine. It is enough for 200 years taking into account rational use.
An energy of Crimean wind
30.08.2007
Crimean peninsula ?? is the traditional ???white spot??? in country??s energy balance. Only 10% of its total needs in energy is satisfied thanks to own generating supplies. However, the Portuguese company, those name is Martifer Group, has decided to transform an energy potential of the region into a real project. The vice-president of Martifer Group, George Martins says: ???We see that capacity of Ukrainian market allows running various projects, however we lay special emphasis on wind-power engineering.??? To be more precise, the company showed readiness to construct two wind-driver power stations in Crimea. The total capacity of planned station is estimated in 300 megawatt. Another company ???Novo-Eco??? proposed to modernize existing transmission lines, build new ones and improve switch-yards. So, the final sum of investments makes up around 500 million euros. Such well-known financial structures as EBRR and Nordic Investment Bank had also expressed their willingness to take part in the project. The project manager, Mats Lundin has informed that they have already obtained the letter of approval from the Ministry. The building of power stations will start at the beginning of the year 2008. All works must be finished in 2 years. The first two platforms will be located in Chernomorskiy and Lenskiy regions of the peninsula. 150 wind turbines (2 megawatt each) will be established on them. To earn money from wind power stations are able mainly foreign companies as they posses the most essential thing - experience. Officials of ???Novo-Eco??? do not exclude attracting of Ukrainian equipment producers and building companies. The reason of power station building wasn??t a random choice. 90-93% of consumed electrical energy must be imported from the continent. In fact, 128,7 megawatt is produced. However, the deficit in peak periods is 200-400 megawatt.
During Soviet times the problem could be solved by nuclear power plant building. However, in practice the idea is absolutely useless. A resort with ???peaceful atom??? nearby ??is not a forward-looking object for tourism. Odessa is on a waiting list. Unfortunately our region also experience scarcity of energy. And it also has wind characteristics, which are exceptionally favorable for wind-driver power stations construction. We hope that Crimean experiment will be successful and serve as testimonial for foreign and local companies to start number of similar projects in Odessa region.
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