KIEV, Nov. 28 - Industrial Union of Donbas (IUD) on Tuesday launched the first phase of a new oxygen converter division at its Alchevsk Iron & Steel Works (AMK), completing the first phase of the modernization of steelmaking facilities at the works.

KIEV, Nov. 29 - Ukraine's steel sector would be able to cope with a rise in the price of gas up to $200 per thousand cubic meters, while the chemical sector would face mergers and acquisitions even if the price grows to $180 per thousand cubic meters.

KIEV, Nov. 28 - The EBRD joined forces with the European Investment Bank to finance projects in countries to the east of the European Union, leveraging significant EU funds for the ???eastern neighbors,??™ EIB reported.

WARSAW, Nov. 28 - General Motors, a big U.S. carmaker, will cooperate with Ukraine??™s UkrAvto to set up major auto manufacturing facilities in Poland to produce Chevrolet cars for distribution in Europe.

MINSK, Nov 29 - Belarus has been seeking to join forces with Ukraine to arrange imports of Caspian Sea crude in order to reduce its total dependence on Russian oil, a source at a Belarus oil company said.

BRATISLAVA, Nov. 29 ??“ Slovakia, a shareholder in Ukraine??™s Kryviy Rih Mining and Dressing Mill of Oxidized Ores, backed a plan to sell the company, Ukrainian Industrial Policy Minister Volodymyr Shandra said.

DUBAI, Nov. 29 - Jordan has expressed its wish to procure An-74-family aircraft, an official at the Kharkiv Aircraft Plant, a subsidiary of Antonov Corp., Ukraine??™s aircraft maker, said at a recent Dubai Air Show 2005.

KIEV, Nov. 29 ??“ Ukrainian Mobile Communications saw its GAAP net profit rise 20% in Q3 in comparison with the same period of 2004, to $94 mln, the company announced.

KRASNODAR, Nov. 29 ??“ Industrial Union of Donbas, one of Ukraine's biggest steel producers, will start building a metal-rolling plant worth ?65 mln in Russia??™s Armavir, Krasnodar Kray, Armavir Mayor Yevgeniy Piven said.

KIEV, Nov. 26 ??“ Ukraine??™s oil and gas companies are stepping up security at their facilities to ensure their stable operation in the face of the unstable political situation in the country, Naftogaz Ukrayiny Chairman Yuriy Boyko announced at a teleconference on Friday, the state-owned company reported.