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Tubes & Fittings
Ukraine 2008: the first
F
or a country with a great tradition in industrial production, the
Ukraine is an obvious choice of location to stage a new tube and
pipe exhibition. Eastern Europe is currently riding on the crest of a
wave, with rising living standards, burgeoning economic strength
and an increasing number of companies establishing manufacturing
facilities in the region.
According to PricewaterhouseCoopers, in the region of US$6 billion
of automotive production will be transferred to central and eastern
Europe over the next five years. The Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland,
Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, and the Ukraine will all be the main
recipients of this investment.
As one of the largest and most influential of these countries, the Ukraine
is emerging as a powerhouse of manufacturing and R&D. In the last 2
years, the Ukraine’s GDP has risen by around 5 per cent, partnered by
a big injection of foreign direct investment (FDI), which reached a net
level of US$6.8 billion from January-September in 2007. Last year, the
Ukraine’s GDP was classified as 29
th
in the world by the IMF
(International Monetary Fund).
In 2007, the
Ukraine’s GDP
was classified as
29
th
in the world
by the IMF
❱
❱
M
ay
2008
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