In October, representatives of the USAID Economic Resilience Activity (ERA) joined more than 50 experts from international organizations from various fields, including engineers, builders, and architects, at the “Industrial Technologies and Reinforced Concrete: A New Development Vector” event in Kyiv organized by Prof Build magazine. The participants discussed effective construction methods for rebuilding Ukraine, how to attract investors to the private sector, and what environmental technologies can be implemented for sustainable development. 

Given the extensive destruction of housing due to Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine needs to restore housing at a rapid pace. Prefabricated buildings with ready-made walls and panels (prefabs) are being used to meet this need, with some of the reinforced concrete structures able to show greater resistance to projectile hits.  

Conference participants discussed how their companies use industrial construction, its advantages and how to attract foreign expertise. 

Oleksandr Stetsenko, ERA’s Senior Manager of Border Crossing Infrastructure Development, spoke on a panel about how ERA’s contractors are modernizing Ukraine’s western borders by installing prefabs. 

“We are installing prefabs at all border crossing points (BCPs) being renovated by USAID ERA”, said Oleksandr Stetsenko. “Why exactly this technology? First of all, this way you can control the quality, because these buildings are manufactured at the factory in batches for different checkpoints according to a single project. We do not prepare project documentation separately for each location but do it once and agree it with partners once. This also speeds up the construction process.” 

“The second advantage is that all prefabs will be equally energy efficient. The third is that it’s a significant time saver. Since the border crossing points work around the clock, we try to create as little inconvenience as possible for employees, citizens, and drivers,” he explained. “We cannot close the intersection for a long time, and it is more efficient to assemble the ready-made prefab from the component parts and quickly install it on the foundation.” 

At the conference, representatives of construction companies also shared their experience in quickly erecting buildings and adapting Ukrainian legislation to European legislation, which will help attract foreign investments in the reconstruction of Ukraine faster.  

USAID ERA supports the reconstruction of more than 40 border crossing points in Ukraine and invites qualified suppliers such as builders and contracting organizations to participate in tenders for the purchase of goods and services for their reconstruction and construction and other purchases of USAID ERA. Detailed information can be found on our website. https://era-ukraine.org.ua/ 

Between 2023 and 2026, USAID, through ERA, is dedicating $115 million to support the Government of Ukraine. This support includes the Ministry for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine (Ministry for Restoration), the State Agency for Restoration and Development of Infrastructure of Ukraine (Agency for Restoration), the State Customs Service, and Ukrainian Railways (UZ) to upgrade 42 of Ukraine’s border crossing points (BCPs). 

On October 24, the USAID Economic Resilience Activity (ERA) representatives, led by Cameron Berkuti, USAID ERA Border Crossing Point Director, met with Oleksandr Novytskyi, Head of the State Inspection of Architecture and Urban Planning of Ukraine (DIAM), to discuss the USAID ERA activities, the procedure for obtaining permit documentation, and construction processes. 

ERA is modernizing 42 border crossing points on Ukraine’s borders with Moldova, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania to enhance efficiency, accessibility, safety, and logistical potential for cargo export. In its first year, the USAID Project has already commenced urgent upgrades at 29 border crossing points. Currently, 17 major infrastructure improvement projects are in the final design stages and potentially submitted for construction permits after awarding the contracts. 

During the meeting, Oleksandr Novytskyi explained the procedure for how to obtain construction permit documentation and the review process, and discussed urban planning reform within which DIAM operates. He stated that design documentation will be submitted to DIA after awarding the construction contract to obtain construction permits. He also mentioned that when a permit is submitted, the electronic EDESSB system automatically provides applicants with prompts regarding potential errors. This allows for corrections at the document submission stage, helping to minimize the number of document rejections. DIAM became a paperless organization in 2021 with 250 staff and specialists nationwide. DIAM currently handles all class consequence 3 (CC3) projects in the country. Construction permits for CC1 and CC2 have been delegated by legislation to local authorities.   

Mr. Oleksandr Novytskyi expressed his willingness to send a checklist of items needed to obtain a construction permit by the project owner.   

Cameron Berkuti shared his USAID-ERA objectives and multi-prone approach to increase the export capacity of rail and road BCPs. He was impressed with DIAM’s advanced and innovative developments, solutions, and services to reduce corruption and expedite the approval process in the construction industry.

USAID’s Economic Resilience Activity (USAID ERA) has purchased and delivered 10 of 20 handheld scanners to the State Customs Service. The total cost of the equipment is about $1 million euro. The scanners will be deployed at the following 12 road BCPs: Yahodyn, Porubne, Uzhhorod, Luzhanka, Krasnoilsk, Diakivtsi, Chop (Tysa), Mamalyha, Rososhany, Starokozache, Mohyliv-Podilskyi, and Rava-Ruska BCPs. 

Customs officials will use the U.S.-made hand-held scanning systems to detect third-party objects in vehicles. The use of these portable scanners is expected to speed up vehicle inspections and help prevent the movement of prohibited substances across the state border. 

Cameron Berkuti, USAID ERA BCP Director, noted: “USAID ERA is actively modernizing Ukraine’s borders to expedite customs processes and overall border crossings. The scanners will enhance border security, speed up vehicle inspections at the borders.“

Handheld X-ray scanners are a fast and effective way to scan vehicles, eliminating the need for in-depth inspections and preventing contraband. 

“Thanks to USAID ERA, modern scanners will now help us inspect vehicles and buses, detecting prohibited or undeclared goods that might be transported across the border. Previously, Сustoms officials relied on other technical means and visual inspections, but these new devices will increase the efficiency of Сustoms officers and speed up inspections at the border,” said Valerii Zhaldak, Director of the Department of Logistics and Property Management of the State Customs Service of Ukraine.

A tablet is used along with the scanner to show what the scanner “sees” on its screen, allowing Customs officers to work together to screen vehicles and luggage. 

“The detailed inspection of one passenger car now takes up to thirty minutes because, if suspicious objects are detected, the paneling must be removed and hard-to-reach places checked. With this scanner, the inspection time will be reduced to ten minutes, significantly speeding up traffic,” shares Artem Mulenko, head of the department of mobile scanning systems at the Volyn Customs Service. “This scanner is designed to scan, for example, a single bag or the side wall of a car.”

Between 2023 and 2026, USAID, through ERA, is dedicating $115 million to support the Government of Ukraine. This support includes the Ministry for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine (Ministry for Restoration), the State Agency for Restoration and Development of Infrastructure of Ukraine (Agency for Restoration), the State Customs Service, and Ukrainian Railways (UZ) to upgrade 42 of Ukraine’s border crossing points (BCPs).

USAID’s Economic Resilience Activity (ERA) has successfully installed 1,909 LED lamps, along with necessary equipment such as switches, cables, and brackets, at 25 road and rail border crossing points (BCPs) across Volyn, Lviv, Zakarpattia, Chernivtsi, Vinnytsia, and Odesa Oblasts. Ukrainian manufacturers VATRA and Beta Light supplied the LED lamps. 

The newly installed LED lamps are highly energy-efficient, using 80% less power than the incandescent lamps they replaced. With 10 hours of darkness each day, the LED technology saves up to 300,000 kWh per month. These lamps also consume up to 50% less energy compared to the halogen and fluorescent lamps replaced. These improvements are vital for ensuring smooth operations at the BCPs, facilitating the safe and efficient movement of goods and travelers. 

In the long term, these upgrades will offer significant benefits, such as reduced maintenance costs and lower energy consumption. Overall, the newly installed LED lamps consume just 200 kWh compared to 1,000 kWh for incandescent bulbs, providing stronger light efficiency and greater durability for border infrastructure. 

Between 2023 and 2026, USAID, through ERA, is dedicating $115 million to support the Government of Ukraine. This support includes the Ministry for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine (Ministry for Restoration), the State Agency for Restoration and Development of Infrastructure of Ukraine (Agency for Restoration), the State Customs Service, and Ukrainian Railways (UZ) to upgrade 42 of Ukraine’s border crossing points (BCPs). 

USAID’s Economic Resilience Activity (ERA) is actively enhancing the operational capacity of Ukraine’s railway border crossing points (BCPs) with Romania and Moldova. To improve the country’s logistics infrastructure, USAID ERA has supplied generators and ICT equipment, streamlining cargo processing and speeding up freight flows at these crucial railway BCPs. 

ERA delivered 34 units of ICT equipment, including printers, computers, laptops, and uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), to the railway BCPs at Reni, Kuchurhan (in Odesa Oblast), and Vadul Siret (in Chernivtsi Oblast). This equipment will help optimize cargo handling and improve administrative operations at these transport hubs. 

Additionally, ERA provided one 6 kW petrol generator and two 17.6 kW diesel generators to the Kuchurhan rail BCP, along with three 17.5 kW diesel generators to the Reni rail BCP. These generators ensure uninterrupted operations during power outages. Ukrainian Railways (UZ) covered the costs of building protective canopies for the equipment.

Earlier, ERA supplied similar ICT equipment and generators to railway BCPs on Ukraine’s western border, including those at Yahodyn, Mostyska, and Chop. 

Between 2023 and 2026, USAID, through ERA, is committing $115 million to directly support the Government of Ukraine. This funding will assist the Ministry for Communities, Territories, and Infrastructure Development (Ministry for Restoration), the State Agency for Restoration and Development of Infrastructure, the State Customs Service, and Ukrainian Railways (UZ) in modernizing 42 of Ukraine’s BCPs.