FDBusiness.com

The European Investment Bank (EIB) is lending €50 million to Astarta-Kiev, a leading Ukrainian agro-industrial producer. Founded in 1993, Astarta–Kiev is a vertically integrated agro-industrial holding specializing in sugar and agricultural production. Astarta–Kiev business units are located in different districts of Poltava, Vynnitsia, Kharkiv and Khmelnitskiy regions. Astarta-Kiev invests in bioenergy projects and recently commissioned a biogas facility at one of its sugar plants in Poltava region.

EIB Vice-President László Baranyay, responsible for lending operations in Ukraine, says: “The EIB will directly support, for the first time in Ukraine, the development of the local private sector. The loan will help improve the resource efficiency of the country’s agri-food sector and contribute to a better food security and self-sufficiency. It will support the economic development of Ukraine and its integration with international market and generate additional employment, particularly in country’s rural areas.”

Astarta-Kiev CEO and founder Viktor Ivanchyk, says: “Astarta is focused on high operational efficiency and follows its long-term growth strategy. Our investments into industrial assets, infrastructure, bio-energy and production efficiency contribute to development of both: our business and rural areas where we operate. Our business is socially responsible, and we are committed to creating new jobs, supporting local communes, contributing to infrastructure development. We strongly believe in global competitive advantages of Ukraine’s agrisector and are working hard to unlock further its high potential.”

The EIB – the European Union’s bank – finances projects in Ukraine on the basis of an EU Council and European Parliament mandate for the countries of the Eastern Neighbourhood. The mandate allows the Bank to extend loans to support projects of significant interest to both the EU and its Eastern Neighbours, in the areas of local private sector development, social and economic infrastructure and climate change.

The European Commission has announced a comprehensive assistance package amounting to Eur11 billion over the coming years to support Ukraine under certain conditions. For its part, the EIB would contribute significantly to this package by providing lending over the next three years up to Eur3 billion should the political and operational conditions allow. The Bank will focus on energy and infrastructure investment as well as access to finance for SMEs.

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EIB Vice-President László Baranyay and Viktor Ivanchyk, founder and CEO of Astarta-Kiev.