KIEV, July 19 – The Association of Tourism Business Leaders as of July 16 has received over 40 applications from travel agencies affected by the collapse of the Karya-Tour Ukraine travel agency.

The association reported last week that the total sum of the debt to tourists exceeds UAH 1.4 million, and new applications are arriving.

KIEV, July 20 – The Agriculture Ministry has said it hopes the country will harvest over 43 million tons of grain this year, despite the wet weather that is hindering the harvesting campaign.

KIEV, July 20 – The Ukrainian Federation of Employers has asked the Ukrainian president and premier to take urgent measures to improve the situation with VAT reimbursement.

KIEV, July 20 – The economic expectations of businesses in Ukraine improved in Q1, according to a posting on the Web site of the National Bank of Ukraine, referring to the results of a poll of company heads conducted in May.

"The negative expectations of respondents regarding the development of the economic situation in the next 12 months have weakened.

KIEV, July 17 – The number of merger and acquisitions on the Ukrainian market in 2009 is expected to grow by three or four times year-over-year, according to experts polled by Interfax-Ukraine.

KIEV, July 20 - The United States Department of Agriculture forecasts the export of Ukrainian grain at 14.2 million tons in the 2009/2010 marketing year, which is 1.5 million tons up on the forecast it made a month ago.

KIEV, July 20 – The deficit of the state sector in 2010 is expected at up to 4% of GDP, taking into account the calculations of the International Monetary Fund, reads a posting on the Web site of the Ukrainian Finance Ministry.

KIEV, July 17 – Lviv’s Europa-Trans Ltd. plans to expand its fleet by 1,000 trucks by the end of the current year, said Oksana Prosolenko, the head of the company's supervisory council.

She said that the company, in particular, signed an agreement with Scania-Ukraine on supply of 300 trucks and Scania G-420 tractors worth EUR 50 million.

FARNBOROUGH, July 17 – Antonov Design Bureau is working on the full modernization of the equipment used in the An-70 military transport aircraft, the bureau's General Designer, Dmytro Kiva, told journalists during the Farnborough 2008 international air show.

FARNBOROUGH, July 17 - The Antonov An-124-100 Ruslan jumbo jets of Ukraine and Russia will continue strategic cargo transportation for 18 NATO and EU member countries under the NATO "SALIS" - Strategic Airlift Interim Solution program, Ruslan International Director General Valeriy Gabriel told Interfax at the Farnborough Air Show on Thursday.