KIEV, April 11 - Shares in two pipe mills controlled by Ukraine's Interpipe Corporation surged 3%-7% on Tuesday on reports that Interpipe was discussing a possible merger with Russia's Pipe Metallurgical Company (TMK), one of the world's largest steel pipe producers.

KIEV, April 11 - The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is providing a EUR 80.8 million loan to Cersanit Invest, a wholly owned Ukrainian subsidiary of the Cersanit Group, the largest Polish manufacturer and distributor of bathroom fittings and ceramic tiles.

KIEV, April 11 ??“ Ukraine will seek to accelerate development of a natural gas field off-shore the Black Sea near Odessa so that first gas can be extracted in early 2007, the Energy and Fuel Ministry said.

KIEV, April 11 ??“ VimpelCom, Russia??™s No. 2 cell phone company, on Tuesday rolled out its well-established Beeline brand in Ukraine that will probably unleash a fierce competition for customers on a booming market.

KIEV, April 11 ??“ Ukraine received several ???interesting??? proposals to continue development of military transport plane Antonov An-70, but was not yet able to accept them due to unclear Russia??™s position, an official said Tuesday.

KIEV, April 11 ??“ The Ukrainian Eurocar Factory in Zakarpattia special economic zone increased production of automobiles by 1.3% in Q1 in comparison with the same period of 2004, to 1,556 cars.

MINSK, April 11 ??“ The Belarus Foreign Affairs Ministry has started an investigation as a preliminary step prior to imposing special protection measures concerning the import of 10 to 60 mm diameter steel cold-worked pipes from Ukraine