Since the zones with special regimes of activity began functioning until January 1, 2005, 768 investment projects have already been approved, including 556 in territories of priority development (TPD) and 212 in special economic zones (SEZ).

Ukraine in 2004 reduced the principal amount of its debt to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) by SDR201.8 million (16.3%) - to SDR1033.7 million, or at the special drawing rights (SDR) to dollar exchange rate at the end of last year - to 1605.3 million dollars, reports Interfax-Ukraine.

The total wage arrears in Ukraine during 2004 decreased by 54.5%, but during December the level of arrears grew by 3.1%. This was reported to "proUA" by the State Statistics Committee of Ukraine. \n \nAs of January 1, 2005, the amount of unpaid wages stood at 817.6 million hryvnias, with 45.

In February, prices for petroleum products may rise in Ukraine. This is the opinion of market participants. Experts of OJSC "Galnaftogaz" assume that fuel prices may increase by an average of 3%-5% by the end of the month.

The Government of the Russian Federation from February 1 is lowering the rate of the export customs duty on crude oil and petroleum products exported from the territory of the Russian Federation outside the borders of the member states of the Customs Union by 18 dollars - to 83 dollars per ton, RIA Novosti reports.

In terms of the rate of repayment of wage arrears, Volyn has made it into the top three oblasts that are doing this the fastest. Only Chernivtsi and Rivne oblasts are ahead of us. More than 8 thousand Volyn residents did not receive their earned money, to whom a total of 5.5 million hryvnias was owed.

The village of Bashova became the thirteenth settlement in the Rozhyshche district to be gasified during the years of Ukraine's independence. Natural gas reached 58 houses. By 2005, they plan to gasify three more villages here.

These days, a tender conducted by the open joint-stock company "Volynoblenergo" for the purchase of single- and three-phase electricity meters has concluded. The procurement of electricity meters through open bidding in Volyn was held for the first time.

The international rating agency Rating and Investment Information, Inc (Japan) on January 26 raised Ukraine's long-term foreign currency loan rating from B+ to BB-.