•Italian company Snam is said to be prepared to invest $2 billion in Ukraine’s natural gas pipeline network, a project that is also drawing interest from Slovak investors, Zyerkalo Nedyeli reported. Naftogaz plans to complete negotiations with investors on a major pipeline infrastructure upgrade in the next three months.

•Ukraine’s central bank simplified borrowing procedures for residents, aiming to streamline the process for Ukrainians to raise external financing, according to Unian. The policy took effect Saturday.

•Unidentified investors plan to finance construction of $35 million solar array near the Kherson region town of Oleshky, Novoe Vremya reported. The 35-megawatt facility is in addition to a 250-megawatt solar power plant slated to be built in the Kherson region this year.

•Zarkapattia regional authorities are looking to lease the Uzhgorod airport to Hungarian low-cost carrier Wizz Air, Novoe Vremya reported. Negotiations on the offer will be held next week in Debrecen, Hungary.

•Ukraine’s GDP growth last year was driven mainly by two factors: record-setting agricultural output and investment activity, according to National Bank of Ukraine report cited by Ekonomicheskaya Pravda.

•The Economic Development Ministry said exports fell 4.6 percent in 2016, which coincides with the State Statistics Service's estimates, Unian reported.

•Kenya is interested in importing large quantities of Ukrainian corn, processing equipment, pharmaceutical products and energy supply equipment, and it is ready to make Ukraine its strategic supplier of agricultural products, Ukrinform reported. Kenya has already confirmed its readiness to import free of duty 450,000 tons of corn from Ukraine.

•Ukraine is ready to negotiate with Greece on restoring ferry service from the Balkan country, Ekonomicheskaya Pravda, reported. As part of the deal, Ukraine may also attract Greek ferry operators to its Black Sea ports as part of the New Silk Road international trade partnership.

For comments and news tips, please email UBJ AM editor David Edwards at david.edwards@theubj.com.