"Ukraine faces recession in 2009", stated Oleksandr Shlapak, First Deputy Chief of President Viktor Yushchenko's Secretariat. "Amid world economic crisis we expect that in 2009 GDP falls, foreign demand for Ukraine's output shrinks by 40 percent and we have zero- or 2-3 -percent growth of domestic output at the best," he said. Global crisis hits the strongest metallurgical industry which generates 27 percent of GDP. "100 thousand employees of construction industry also face the prospects of unpaid leaves or dismissals," Shlapak announced. Source: gpwinfostrefa.pl

The output of cast-iron in Ukraine fell by over 20 percent m-o-m in September 2008 but its export increased by 69.3 percent m-o-m. Ukrainian cast-iron was mainly bought by Americans to whom 57.78 thousand tons were shipped. Source: wnp.pl

Polska Grupa Energetyczna (PGE) handed over three highest-voltage power supply lines, so-called Eastern lines, to a company PSE Operator. Two of them connect with Ukraine: Chmielnicka-Rzeszow (750 kV) and Dobrotwor-Zamosc (220 kV). The transferred assets are worth about PLN 147 million. Polish Ministry of State Treasury, the owner of both companies, acted as intermediary for the operation. So far only the smallest connection with Ukraine is operative. The operator will consider modernization of the connections and will hold auctions for the usage of the operative line. Revenues will be allocated to building new connection with Ukraine. Source: pb.pl

Cersanit Invest, Ukrainian subsidiary of Cersanit SA , obtained a consent of the country's government to exploit two plants in Czyzywce, near Novograd which produce ceramic tiles and ceramic products. Modernization of facilities, envisaged to send up the annual output capacity in 2009, was started in 2008. The plans see 12 million meters square of ceramic tiles (against the current 7 million square meters) and 2 million ceramic products (against the present 1 million). Source: inwestycje.pl

Ukrainian developing company TMM boosted its sale of apartments in January-September 2008 by 48 percent y-o-y. Source: eurobuild.pl

ECE Projektmanagement, one of the largest German developers, cancelled its plans of growth in Ukrainian market and dismissed almost all its staff employed in Kiev's branch. The company envisaged to invest EUR 300-400 million in Ukraine. Decision is justified with the unfavorable investment atmosphere. Source: Kommersant Ukraina

„World financial crisis and lack of legal arrangements have led to shutting down preparation works on majority of facilities meant to host visitors for Euro 2012," announced Evhen Villinski, a spokesperson for Ukraine's Euro 2012 preparation ministry. Modernization and construction works were halted in four Euro 2012 host-cities and also in reserve cities. "80 percent of facilities on which construction works should be in progress are stagnant," Villinski said. Source: money.pl

Parliament has ratified the agreement with the European Space Agency on cooperation in the field of outer space. The agreement allows for implementation of joint projects in such areas as space research, space medicine and biology, satellite navigation, transfer of space technologies etc. Source: ukranews.com