KIEV, June 3 - Ukrainian weapons exports in 2009 totaled $214 million, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

Ukraine took 14th place in the SIPRI world rating of arms exporters, the same as in 2008, with $233 million. Ukraine was seventh in 2007 with $774 million, according to the SIPRI's updated information.

KIEV, June 3 – Kharkiv-based Turboatom, Ukraine's sole producer of turbine equipment for hydro, thermal and nuclear power plants, plans to take part in a tender on supply of equipment to build the Dong-Nai five hydro power plant in Vietnam, where two Francis-type 75 MW hydro turbines and wheels of 4.35 meter in diameter.

KIEV, June 3 - ArcelorMittal Kryviy Rih, jointly with Siemens VAI, has announced the launch of construction of a continuous casting machine (CCM) with a production capacity of over 1.2 million tons of steel per year.

KIEV, June 4 – The program of economic reforms in Ukraine for 2010-2014 includes making the Ukrainian gas transport system (GTS) and underground gas storage facilities, which are part of Ukrtransgaz, subsidiaries of National JSC Naftogaz Ukrainy, an independent national company.

KIEV, June 5 ??“ The permission given to non-resident insurers to re-insure in Ukraine, and provide such subsidiary insurance services as consultations, assessment of actuarial risks and satisfaction of claims, as foreseen in amendments to the law on insurance adopted by the parliament on May 31, will boost insurance market, according to Natalia Hudyma, director of the League of Insurance Organizations of Ukraine.

KIEV, June 5 - The Dragon-Ukrainian Properties & Development Plc real estate investment fund, which raised $208 million during an IPO on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) of the London Stock Exchange in late spring, plans in 2008-2009 to enter the promissory capital market and attract up to $600 million.

KIEV, June 5 ??“ The founder of the TAS Group, Serhiy Tihipko, plans to invest funds received from the sale of Kiev-based TAS-Kommerzbank into the insurance business.

KIEV, June 5 ??“ The agreement on holding early parliamentary elections on Sept. 30, which is leading to the settlement of the political conflict, will promote an increase in the investment attractiveness of Ukraine, according to bankers interviewed by Interfax-Ukraine.

KIEV, June 5 ??“ UNIQA, an Austrian insurance group, and Credo-Classic, a major Ukrainian insurance firm, created a 50-50 joint venture, UNIQA Life, to tap lucrative life insurance market in the country, the companies said.

KIEV, June 6 ??“ Russian oil major Lukoil warned on Tuesday it may stop its petrochemical complex in Ukraine after the government had allegedly failed to reimburse value added tax payments to the company.