KIEV, April 17 – LUKOIL-Naftokhim, part of LUKOIL, has allocated $500 million to build membrane method sodium hydroxide and chlorine production plants at Karpatnaftokhim Ltd. in Kalush (Ivano-Frankivsk region) and a suspension polyvinylchloride resin production facility, according a posting on the official Karpatnaftokhim web site.

KIEV, April 17 – The International Center for Policy Studies (ICPS) announced it has improved its forecast for GDP growth in Ukraine in 2008 from 6.5% to 6.7%, but downgraded its inflation forecast from 10% to 19.5%.

KIEV, April 17 – GDP growth in Ukraine in 2008 could slow to 5.5-5.6%, while in 2007 the figure was 7.6%, according to Valeriy Lytvytsky, the head of the group of advisors to the NBU governor.

KIEV, April 17 – To host the finals of the Euro 2012 European Football Championship in Ukraine it is necessary to attract about $25 billion, with $5 billion coming from the budget, Football Federation of Ukraine President Hryhoriy Surkis said.

KIEV, April 17 ??“ Ukraine will soon start talks with Russia over prices of natural gas to be charged in 2008, Energy and Fuel Minister Yuriy Boyko said Tuesday.

Ukraine seeks to get 55 billion cubic meters of gas in 008, on par with 2007, he said.

KIEV, April 17 ??“ Credit-Dnepr, Ukraine??™s No. 41 bank by assets, is to increase its statutory capital by UAH 201.294 million, or by 3.7 times, to UAH 275 million, the bank's press service reported on Monday.

KIEV, April 17 ??“ Ukrsotsbank, Ukraine??™s No. 6 bank, is to increase its statutory capital by almost 2.8 times, or by UAH 650 million, to UAH 1.02 billion, via an additional issue of shares.

KIEV, April 17 - Henkel will invest 10 million euros in the construction of plant that will produce construction mixes in western Ukraine in 2007, Henkel Bautechnik told Interfax.

KIEV, April 17 ??“ The owner of Ukrsotsbank still plan to sell a controlling stake in the bank to the strategic investor, the press service of the Dnipropetrovsk-based Interpipe Group, which is authorized to represent sellers of Ukrsotsbank, has reported.

TOKYO, April 17 - A former Japanese soldier last seen by his family when he went off to fight in World War II has resurfaced in Ukraine and is returning home to see his relatives after 60 years, the government said Monday.