A new meat processing centre set up with German help has begun operations in Kiev. The centre was established on land from the Innovation Centre of Food Technologies in Kiev and has been financed by a special "Transform" programme set up by the German government to help the development of agriculture.

The rationale behind the centre is to provide a model for the meat industry in Ukraine and provide specialist training for up to 50 people. The Ukrainian authorities hope the new centre will help to restructure the sector and foster the development of small and medium-sized companies. The two countries collaborated to set up a baking centre in 1999 in Poltava under the same Transform programme and a milk centre is planned for September 2002.