On 3 March 2021, the Lviv Governor, Maksym Kozytskyi, met with representatives of CPG, including Parent Company Director Oleg Drin, to discuss the Company’s investment in potato processing and storage in the Lviv Region. The detailed link to the announcement on the Lviv Local Government website is as follows:

https://loda.gov.ua/news?id=57416

The English translation of this news is shown below.

Head of Lviv Regional State Administration, Maksym Kozytskyi, met with representatives of Central Plains Group Ukraine – the Company located in Velykosilky, Kamyanka-Buzka district, specialising in growing high-quality table potatoes and varieties suitable for potato chip production.

The Company was founded by foreign investors from Great Britain and Finland to develop agriculture in Lviv region. The land bank estimating around 700 hectares in Kamyanka-Buzka and Sambir districts, potato production amounted to approx. 15,000. tons last year.

Central Plains Group Ukraine has chosen Western Ukraine to operate their potato business due to the fertile soils and good rainfall. It grows potatoes and cooperation with Frito-Lay, the global crisp producer.

Oleg Drin, the member of the Board of Directors and shareholder representative for K Hartwall Invest, the Finnish Investment Fund, outlined the Company’s plans on expanding its operational activities, including potato processing for starch.

One of the key projects is building a plant for waste-free processing of potatoes at Glyniany, Zolochiv district. The construction and equipment investment will total about USD 7 million and 50 jobs will be created. Processing of 40-50,000 tons of potatoes a year is planned over the next 3 years. There will be a great demand for potatoes, so it is expected to establish successful cooperation with local Farmers and build the efficient process of growing and supplying raw materials to the plant. Cooperation with USAID in development of cooperation with local growers and further establishing potato purchasing from local farmers is planned as well.

In the first year of CPG’s Ukraine operations good results have been achieved, namely by having the new potato warehouse constructed and equipped with modern ventilation and refrigeration equipment for 11,000 tonne capacity, and the next construction project of the same capacity is on its way this year.

Potato planting area increase is also anticipated. In 2020 Central Plains Group Ukraine paid UAH 1.5 million of personal income taxes and other tax contribution were made to the state budget.

During the meeting it was also discussed a number of working aspects, particularly the issues with timely obtaining of construction permissions for storage and processing facilities.

Mr. Governor was also addressed the request for Zastavne-Hlyniany road repairing and the Head of the Region assured the Investors of his ultimate support and that road repairs are firmly scheduled for the current year.