TPT May 2008

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).

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In 2007, the Ukraine’s GDP was classified as 29 th in the world by the IMF

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M ay 2008

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