1. On October 18, the Ukrainian Association of Furniture Manufacturers (UAFM), with the support of the USAID Competitive Economy Program in Ukraine (CEP), organized the “London Trade Mission Feedback Event” to share the initial impressions and results of UAFM’s trade mission to London with all parties interested in the UK market. The organizers, including Oksana Donska, and participants from companies like Arina Shevchuk (“ARTBUZ” creative workshop), Lyudmila Turik (Metal land), and Stanislava Kruglyakova (Re:Quiet), shared their experiences from the mission.
2. UAFM has launched a new course of the Furniture Business Academy (FBA) titled “Marketing Strategies for Brands that Boost Export”. The course promises to provide essential knowledge and skills for success in the world of marketing for furniture products and to facilitate expansion into export markets.
3. In Odessa, the “Business Community Day: Odessa Exhibition of UN Procurement and Suppliers” forum took place. The event’s goal was to support entrepreneurs from the southern regions of Ukraine, increase awareness of the UN procurement system, and provide opportunities for Ukrainian businesses to collaborate with international organizations.
4. Changes to the Procedure for registering taxpayers regarding tax payment changes for changes of location have come into effect. The regulations concerning the opening of accounts in banks and other financial institutions are now supplemented with similar regulations for opening accounts with non-bank payment service providers or electronic wallets issued by electronic money issuers.
5. Private entrepreneurs and their employees working on defense orders or orders for local government or military administrations with defense significance have the right to be exempt from mobilization.
6. State Enterprise “Forests of Ukraine” reported a nine-month profit increase of UAH 2.6 billion, which is ten times more than the industry’s earnings before the reform. This achievement was announced by the company’s CEO, Yuriy Bolokhovets.
7. Until the cancellation of the state of war in Ukraine and twelve months after, individual entrepreneurs have the right not to calculate and pay the unified social contribution (USC) for themselves. Entrepreneurs who choose not to pay USC for themselves must reflect this information in their tax declarations.
8. Despite war and the nascent state of the furniture market, the company “MERX” opened a new-format soft furniture salon on the left bank of the capital. The salon offers a wide range of furniture options to suit various tastes. Congratulations to MERX, a UAFM’s participant, and best wishes for their success!
9. Western Australia may soon see the world’s tallest wooden building, a “hybrid” tower measuring 191.2 meters constructed from massive timber. The construction will use 7,400 cubic meters of timber harvested from 600 trees. The design combines laminated timber beams with a steel exoskeleton for structural support.
10. Passive sitting has been proven to have negative effects on the physical and mental health of children. Therefore, the “Lentala” studio in Amsterdam has developed children’s furniture, including the Rom & Lupa chairs, designed for active sitting. These chairs encourage children to switch between eight sitting positions.
11. The German company “Dieffenbacher” has introduced a unique, innovative, and environmentally friendly technology (and the equipment for it) for producing high-density and medium-density fiberboard (HDF/MDF) from palm fronds. The production of the first board is planned in Egypt for the fall of 2025.
12. The European Federation of Woodworking Machinery Manufacturers has concluded that Brazil’s furniture industry is one of the world’s most powerful. According to the Brazilian Association of the Furniture Industry, the country is home to over 19,000 furniture companies, contributing 1.2% to the country’s GDP.