Kyiv Region Overview

Kiev Oblast an oblast in central Ukraine. Its capital is Kiev. Despite hosting governing bodies of the oblast, Kiev itself is independent from surrounding oblast'.

Geographically, oblast is divided into two almost equal parts by the Dnieper River flowing southwards.

The north-western end of the province is a part of the Chornobyl' zone. The largest city within zone is Pryp'yat.

The area of the region is 28,100 km². Its population, excluding Kiev itself, (as of 2004-05-01) is 1.8 million.

Important cities include:

• Bila Tserkva
• Brovary
• Boryspil'
• Irpin'-Kotsiubyns'ke-Bucha-Vorzel' (these neighboring towns are practically merged into conurbation)
• Fastiv
• Vasyl'kiv

Kiev

Kiev is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper river. As of 2003, Kiev officially had 2,642,486 inhabitants, although the large number of unregistered migrants would probably raise this figure to about three million. Administratively, Kiev is a national-level subordinated municipality, independent from surrounding Kiev Oblast. Kiev is an important industrial, scientific, educational and cultural center of Eastern Europe. It is home to many high-tech industries, higher education institutions, world-famous museums and art institutions. The city has an extensive infrastructure and highly developed system of public transport, including a Kiev Metro system.

During its history Kiev, one of the oldest cities in the Eastern Europe, passed through several stages of great prominence and relative obscurity. Founded probably in the 5th century, a trading post in the land of Early East Slavs, the city gradually acquired eminence as the center of the East Slavic civilization, in the tenth to twelfth centuries a political and cultural capital of Kievan Rus'. Completely destroyed during the Mongol invasion in 1238, the city lost most of its influence for the centuries to come. It was a provincial capital of marginal importance in the outskirts of the territories controlled by its powerful neighbors: the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Muscovite Russia, later the Russian Empire. The city prospered again during the Russian industrial revolution in the late 19th century. After the turbulent period following the Russian Revolution (1917), from 1921 Kiev was an important city of Soviet Ukraine, and, since 1934, its capital. During World War II, the city was destroyed again, almost completely, but quickly recovered in the post-war years becoming the third most important city of the USSR. It now remains the capital of Ukraine, independent since 1991 following the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Geography and climate

Kiev is located on both sides of the Dnieper river, which flows south through the city towards the Black Sea. Geographically, Kiev belongs to the Polissya natural zone (a part of the European mixed woods). However, the city's unique landscape distinguishes it from the surrounding region. The elder right-bank (western) part of Kiev is represented by numerous woody hills, ravines and small rivers (now mostly extinct). It is a part of the larger Prydniprovska (near-Dnieper) upland adjoining the western bank of the Dnieper. The left-bank (eastern) part of the city was built in the Dnieper valley. Significant areas of it were artificially sand-deposited and are protected by dams.

The river forms a branching system of tributaries, isles and harbors within city limits. The city is adjoined by the mouth of the Desna River and the Kyivs'ke reservoir in the north, and the Kanivs'ke reservoir in the south. Both the Dnieper and Desna rivers are navigable at Kiev, although regulated by the reservoir shipping locks and limited by winter freeze-over.

Kiev's climate is continental humid, although it has changed significantly during recent decades due to global climate changes.

Modern Kiev

Today, Kiev is a modern city with over 2.5 million inhabitants. Like many other large cities of the former Soviet Union, it is a mix of the old and the new, seen in everything from the buildings to the stores to the people themselves. Experiencing a fast growth rate during the 1970s, '80s and the early to mid-'90s, Kiev has continued its consistent growth after five years of restructuring. As a result, today, even Kiev's "downtown" is a dotted picture of new, modern buildings (known as novostroika) amongst the pale yellows, blues and grays of the older apartments. During the last growth period, urban sprawl has been gradually reduced while population densities of suburbs started increasing. Today, it is rather popular to own a novostroika in Kharkivskyi Raion, Troyeshchina, or Obolon along the Dnieper, around Khreschatyk, as well as in Pechersk or other better-established areas.

With Ukrainian independence on the turn of the millennium, new changes came. Western-style novostroikas, hip nightclubs, classy restaurants and prestigious hotels opened in the center. Music from Europe and North America started rising on Ukrainian music charts. And most importantly, with the changes in visa rules in 2005, Ukraine is positioning itself as a prime tourist attraction, with Kiev, among the other large cities, looking to profit from the new opportunities. The center of Kiev has been cleaned up and buildings have been restored and redecorated, especially Khreschatyk and Independence Square. Many historic squares of Kiev, such as Andryivskyi Uzviz, have become popular street vendor locations, where one can buy traditional Ukrainian art, religious items, books, game sets (most commonly chess) as well as jewellery.

History

Historically, Kiev is one of the most ancient and important cities of the region, the center of the Rus' civilization, survivor of numerous wars, purges ,and genocides. Many historical and architectural landmarks are preserved or reconstructed in the city, which is thought to have existed as early as the fifth century. With the exact time of city foundation being hard to determine, May 1982 was chosen to celebrate the city's 1,500th anniversary. During the eighth and ninth centuries Kiev was an outpost of the Khazar empire. Starting from some point during the late ninth or early tenth century, Kiev was ruled by the Varangian nobility and became the nucleus of the Rus' polity, which became known as Kievan Rus' during the Golden Age of Kiev. In 1238 Kiev was compeletely destroyed by the Mongol hordes of Batu Khan, an event that had a profound effect on the future of the city and the East Slavic civilization. From 1362, the area with what was left of the city, became part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and from 1569 a part of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (1569, as a capital of Kijów Voivodship).

In the 17th century it fell under the Muscovite Russia (later Russian Empire), where for some time it remained a provincial town of marginal importance. Kiev prospered again during the Russian industrial revolution in the late nineteenth century. In the turbulent period following the Russian Revolution Kiev was cought in the middle of several conflicts: the Second World War, the Russian Civil War, and the Polish-Soviet War. Amidst these chaotic years, Kiev became the capital of several short-lived Ukrainian states and from 1921 the city was part of the Soviet Union, since 1934 as a capital of Soviet Ukraine. In World War II, the city was destroyed again, almost completely, but quickly recovered in the post-war years becoming the third most important city of the Soviet Union, the capital of the second largest Soviet republic. It now remains the capital of Ukraine, independent since 1991 following the collapse of the Soviet Union.

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For investors: new entry

Novokahovskyi Lime-Sand Brick Plant Purposes of company: Investments Company description: Market Overview:  Construction volume is increasing 20-25% annually, creating an increased demand for high quality façade bricks. The industrial capacity of façade bricks is estimated at 200 million bricks per year. In 2006, a construction boom is expected in southern Ukraine, where the plant is located. The product is used mainly by construction companies and private companies. Project Overview: Using KSE-400 (Germany) Equipment supplier offers trainings for the buyer’s staff Can produce 30 million bricks per year including high quality hollow façade bricks, ordinary bricks, molded bricks, white and colored bricks Competitive Advantages: Production of lime-sand bricks is considerably more energy efficient than the production of ceramic bricks. Moreover, the project envisions the reconstruction of one of the two pit-type 50-ton lime-burning kilns; using coal, automatic blending, loading, and burning will save on gas Plant produces its own lime; a sand-pit is located close to the plant No high quality lime-sand hollow bricks are produced in southern Ukraine Due to the considerable decrease in the weight of the bricks, delivery and transportation becomes much easier; bricks can be transported by auto, railway (via the plant’s rail track), or by water (a river port is 8 km away) Investment Project Progress:  Market research has been conducted Key Financials: Total Investment - € 1.5 mln Investment Needed - € 1.5 mln Payoff period - 5 years Branch: Construction materials see more Purposes of company: Investments Company description:    Branch: Construction materials see more

For Buyers: new entry

Lana Private Manufacturing-Commercial Firm Purposes of company: Export Company description: Lana produces a wide variety of wood furnishings for the discerning customer. Lana specializes in high-quality, premium home furnishings created from solid wood, including: furniture, entry and interior doors, parquet, furniture façades, interior decorations, and staircases. Buyers can choose from distinctive creations of Lana’s innovative design team or provide their own designs. No matter how intricate the design, Lana’s highly-trained specialists will surpass their customers’ expectations. Lana’s experienced team tightly controls the manufacturing process from start to finish, from selection and processing of only the finest lumber to careful inspection and meticulous hand-finishing of each item produced.   Lana is a family-owned business. This company has been successful in Ukraine and the countries of the former Soviet Union for over 15 years. The key to Lana’s success is dedication to traditional business values: excellent customer service, high-quality craftsmanship, and consistently delivering on commitments.   Lana creates unique and interesting designs. The company has flexible production and can make adjustments quickly to fill new orders. Lana’s marketing service has qualified specialists with good customer service skills. The company employs highly qualified specialists to create handmade products with unique designs. The company has mastered a full woodworking cycle, from lumber to the finished product. The company has developed its own methods for drying and sawing wood. Valuable and rare types of wood are used. Branch: Furniture see more Aliot, Ltd. Purposes of company: Export Company description: Aliot, Ltd has been active in the Ukrainian furniture market since 1999. Aliot is a professional manufacturer of interior furniture for offices and homes. The distinguishing feature of this company’s production is a harmonious combination of functionality and aesthetics together with reasonable prices. Aliot’s specialists work with European equipment that enables them to produce high-quality modern furniture. The aim of the company is to perfect and develop the furniture industry in order to satisfy the growing requirements of their customers and partners. A combination of competent marketing policies and a team of professionals with a high level of technical training and practical skills ensure the constant development of the Aliot company. Branch: Furniture see more