KIEV, March 30 - The government and major oil companies, including Lukoil and TNK-BP, on Wednesday signed a memorandum that calls for increasing oil imports and oil refining in Ukraine.

KIEV, March 30 - Ukraine’s largest oil producer UkrNafta and largest oil refinery UkrTatNafta should be merged into one operation, Ihor Kolomoyskiy, a billionaire co-owner of both companies, said Wednesday.

KIEV, March 29 – Ukraine’s total direct and guaranteed state debt increased by 0.7%, or $257 million, in February to a new record high of $37.944 billion, the Finance Ministry reported.

KIEV, March 30 – Ukraine's GDP growth in 2010 will be 3.4%, and in 2011 it could accelerate to 4.7%, following a 15% fall in 2009, according to experts of investment companies, banks and nongovernmental analytical centers that took part in a March consensus forecast drawn up the aegis the Economy Ministry.

KIEV, March 27 – Gaz Ukrayiny Company has signed supplementary agreements for the prolongation of the term of agreements on natural gas supplies to Kyivenergo, the electricity supply company has reported.

Kyivenergo said that the submission of the agreements was delayed.

MOSCOW, March 27 – Russia's Vnesheconombank faced political opposition while performing a deal to buy a controlling stake in Prominvestbank (Kyiv), said Sergei Glazyev, the deputy secretary general of EurAsEC and co-chairman of the Russian-Ukrainian forum.

KIEV, March 28 – Ukrzaliznytsia plans to buy over 3,500 passenger cars, 442 passenger electric locomotives, 125 diesel locomotives, 236 electric trains, 133 diesel trains and dozen of hundred other passenger machinery in the light of a comprehensive program on the upgrade of rolling stock by 2010 that was introduced on Thursday.

MOSCOW, March 28 - Arcelor Mittal has now obtained all the necessary regulatory approvals to buy Russia-based coal assets.

KIEV, March 28 - Greece's Alpha Bank expects to close the acquisition of 90% of Kiev-based Astra Bank in the second quarter, the Greek bank said in a press release.

Astra Bank's current shareholders will retain a 10% stake in the bank and remain in management, the release said.

KIEV, March 30 ??“ AeroSvit Ukrainian Airlines will start regular flights between Kiev and Naples, Italy as of April 9, Interfax-Ukraine reported citing a company official. The flights will be made on Boeing 737 four times a week.