From December 18-22, under USAID’s Economic Resilience Activity (ERA), six modular or prefabricated (prefab) buildings, were delivered for installation at the border crossing point (BCP) in the Volyn region. Manufactured by the Dnipro-based manufacturing company Artmetal Ukraine, the modular buildings will be used as offices by Customs and Border Guard officials.  

“In cooperation with our international partners, the Agency for Restoration is already actively modernizing the border crossing points that we have taken over. Capital repairs, improvement, restoration of border highways – this complex of works is necessary both for increasing the carrying capacity and for the comfort of people”, says Mustafa Nayem, the Head of the State Agency for Restoration and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine (SARDI).

The necessary ground preparation, dismantling of the existing prefabricated buildings, and connecting the telephone and internet networks, will continue throughout December and into early January. When the installations are completed, each prefab building will boast of power supply, lighting system, telephone and Internet access, heating, air conditioning, and office furniture.  

“Under the contract with USAID ERA, we are to manufacture 32 modular structures and a canopy, which come in six different sizes and for different uses including restrooms, canopy, and offices. We are now completing the first batch of such buildings for one of the border crossing points in the Volyn region. Our mission is to make rapid construction accessible and to improve conditions for those who use these mobile buildings, so that people can work comfortably and conveniently”, says Oleg Myroshnychenko, CEO of Artmetal Ukraine. 

The Volyn road BCP, which connects Ukraine with Poland, holds significant strategic export importance and is a priority BCP for improving the country’s logistical infrastructure. The modernization of Ukraine’s border crossing points will facilitate more efficient export of grains to international markets. For Ukraine, being one of the leading global grain exporters, this not only contributes to strengthening the country’s economy but also plays a key role in preventing a global food crisis. 

Background: Between 2023-2026, USAID, through the Economic Resilience Activity (ERA), is dedicating $115 million to support the State Agency for Restoration and Development of Infrastructure of Ukraine (SARDI), Ukrainian Railways (UZ), and State Customs Services, to upgrade border crossing points (BCPs) to improve grain trade and export volumes. 

USAID, through the Economic Resilience Activity (ERA), is upgrading Ukraine’s border crossing points (BCPs) to improve grain export logistics, and as part of this, from December 6 to 8, subcontractor Miyamoto Ukraine undertook a visit to inspect three key priority BCPs near Poland, Hungary and Slovakia.

During the visit, the Miyamoto team inspected the condition of the unfinished terminals at the two road BCPs in the Zakarpattia region, and surveyed the area designated for the expansion of the cargo terminal at the road BCP in the Volyn region. Miyamoto Ukraine had formed three teams, with each team consisting of engineers, building inspection specialists, and architects, and assigned to work separately on different BCPs. The technical inspection of these BCPs is scheduled to continue until the end of December 2023, after which they will start preparing the draft report on the unfinished terminals. Following the December visit, the pre-design survey of the Volyn region BCP will commence in December 2023.

“The team of professionals at Miyamoto Ukraine is helping us with the resolution of the most complex and socially important reconstruction projects. The modernization of checkpoints is among the most urgent. This is about the development of economic potential, transportation of humanitarian and military cargos. We thank our partners for their help in these important projects,” says Mustafa Nayyem, the Head of the Agency for Restoration and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine (SARDI).

Miyamoto Ukraine has formed three teams, each consisting of engineers, building inspection specialists, and architects. Each team has been assigned to work separately on different border crossing points (BCPs). The technical inspection is scheduled to continue through December 2023, after which they will start preparing a draft report on the unfinished terminals.

Miyamoto International has an official presence in 27 countries worldwide. The Ukrainian branch boasts an engineering team of approximately 128 professionals based in Ukraine. This team will provide design and quality assurance for the BCP construction work under ERA. Miyamoto Ukraine is also actively collaborating with the State Agency for Restoration and Development of Infrastructure of Ukraine and working with regional and military administrations in various parts of the country.

Background: Between 2023-2026, USAID, through the Economic Resilience Activity (ERA), is dedicating $115 million to support the State Agency for Restoration and Development of Infrastructure of Ukraine (SARDI), Ukrainian Railways (UZ), and State Customs Services, to upgrade border crossing points (BCPs) to improve grain trade and export volumes.

On December 6, USAID Economic Resilience Activity (ERA) began the upgrade of lighting systems at key crossing points on the borders with Poland and Slovakia, by replacing and installing 479 LED lights. The work will continue throughout December and early January. These two border crossing points (BCPs) are among the first nine priority BCPs receiving USAID ERA’s rapid modernization assistance, which is aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s export-logistical infrastructure including ports, rail, and road transport, to increase operational efficiency.  

“The modernization of border crossing points is an important component in strengthening the export logistics infrastructure as a whole. Particularly important for us are the crossing points on the borders with Poland and Slovakia. The two BCPs where work is currently underway are among the nine that are being supported through USAID’s rapid modernization assistance. The new lighting systems will improve the operation of the BCPs and significantly help in the uninterrupted movement through them,” says Oleksandr Kubrakov, Deputy Prime Minister for Recovery of Ukraine – Minister for Communities, Territories, and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine. 

The crossing points with neighboring Poland and Slovakia are important export gateways for Ukraine and have strategic significance in the country’s export logistics. Timely and substantial upgrades, such as these lighting systems, improve the overall functionality of the BCP infrastructure. Therefore, such updates are crucial for ensuring the continuous flow of goods from Ukraine, guaranteeing grain export. 

“Border crossing points have become strategically important for development, and support of export and import. With the start of the war, part of the border was closed, effectively shutting down ports. At the same time, we made a huge leap towards European integration. We thank our partners for their help. On our part, we started implementing changes at the crossing points, which will provide comfort for users,” says Mustafa Nayyem, the Head of the Agency for Restoration and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine (SARDI).

Timothy Madigan, ERA’s Chief of Party remarks on USAID ERA’s modernizing of BCP activities: “Every step in the modernization of Ukraine’s infrastructure opens new horizons for its economic development and international integration. Systematic updating of key border crossing points not only enhances Ukraine’s export capacity but is also a symbol of resilience and progress in the face of challenges. These lighting system upgrades provide not only a brighter road for transport but also a brighter future for the country.”

Background: Between 2023-2026, USAID, through the Economic Resilience Activity (ERA), is dedicating $115 million to support the State Agency for Restoration and Development of Infrastructure of Ukraine (SARDI), Ukrainian Railways (UZ), and State Customs Services, to upgrade border crossing points (BCPs) to improve grain trade and export volumes. 

On December 6, USAID Economic Resilience Activity (ERA) delivered a 50-kW generator to the railway border crossing point in the Volyn region. The generator will provide backup power to one of the largest cargo BCPs on Ukraine’s borders and help manage the disruptions to the flow of cargo out of Ukraine.

As Ukraine continues to deal with challenges brought on by the war, and Russia’s attacks on critical infrastructure in particular, support such as this is vital in managing the disruptions to the flow of cargo out of Ukraine, thereby safeguarding grain exports.

“Continuing to secure the railway infrastructure with alternative power sources and enhancing its energy resilience is of paramount importance. The previous batch of industrial generators received from USAID has been installed at our facilities throughout Ukraine, and this generator will provide backup power for one of the international border crossings. Even in the face of electricity shortages due to hostile shelling, we will be able to maintain the transportation of goods. Thanks to our partners who assist us in managing these challenges,” said Oleksiy Statnik, Director of the Electrification and Power Supply Department at JSC Ukrzaliznytsia.

USAID ERA is working on the rapid modernization of the BCPs to increase operational efficiency, to improve the logistics of cargo transportation, and increase the volume of trade and the export of grain.

Between 2023-2026, USAID, through the Economic Resilience Activity (ERA), is dedicating $115 million to support the State Agency for Restoration and Development of Infrastructure of Ukraine (SARDI), Ukrainian Railways (UZ), and State Customs Services, to upgrade border crossing points (BCPs) to improve grain trade and export volumes.

On November 21, DAI Global LLC, implementer of the USAID Economic Resilience Activity (ERA), signed a subcontract with the U.S.-licensed global architecture and engineering (A&E) company Miyamoto International, Inc. to improve the transport logistics infrastructure and modernize Ukraine’s border crossing points. 

Miyamoto, which has an engineering team of about 128 professionals located in their Ukraine office, will provide design and quality assurance for ERA’s construction work to improve Ukrainian border crossing points (BCP). 

“The modernization of Ukraine’s border crossing points holds great significance in the face of the logistics challenges facing Ukraine’s grain exports. Miyamoto brings years of experience, necessary expertise, and professionals here in Ukraine, and I am confident that our collaboration will be successful and yield meaningful results that will not only enhance Ukraine’s economic development but also support global food security”, says Timothy Madigan, ERA’s Chief of Party. 

Within the framework of the signed contract, Miyamoto will complete the feasibility, Technical Economic Justification, pre-design documentation for designing new cargo terminals, and pre-design and post-design services as needed for the nine high-priority BCPs being supported under ERA in western Ukraine. 

“For the economic development of the country, especially now, when the country is at war, the opportunity for export is extremely important, and as a result, the inflow of currency. Therefore, we, the Miyamoto Ukraine team, consciously acknowledge the existing challenges in export logistics and will do everything in our power to achieve successful implementation of the border crossing points modernization activity. In the Miyamoto Ukraine team are highly qualified engineers work, so we are confident that we will propose new and effective solutions and proudly execute this important project for Ukraine,” says Pavlo Pokhalchuk, General Director of Miyamoto International Ukraine says “, emphasizing the significance of upgrading border crossing points in Ukraine. 

Miyamoto International has official representation in 27 countries worldwide. The company has 20 years of experience gained globally, including in the United States, Japan, Mexico, Afghanistan, and Indonesia, which will be valuable in the modernization of transport and logistics infrastructure at Ukraine’s BCPs within the cooperation with USAID ERA. 

In Ukraine, Miyamoto International Ukraine began its operations in September 2022. Since then, specialists from Miyamoto International Ukraine have: 

• Conducted inspections and assessed the scale of destruction of more than 30,000 ruined objects. 
• Participated in joint projects with international charitable organizations to rebuild more than 5,000 objects and continue work in seven regions of Ukraine (Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Kherson, Chernihiv). 
• Inspected over 100 educational institutions where work on shelter arrangements and building restoration has started, is ongoing, or has been completed. 

Miyamoto International Ukraine has also initiated active collaboration with the State Agency for Restoration and Development of Infrastructure of Ukraine, as well as regional and military administrations in various parts of the country. 

Currently, the engineers of Miyamoto International Ukraine are engaged in the reconstruction of Ukrainian cities and towns that have suffered from Russia’s brutal war against Ukraine. 

Background: USAID, through the Economic Resilience Activity (ERA), is upgrading Ukraine’s border crossing points (BCPs) with Poland, Hungary, Romania, Moldova, and Slovakia to improve grain export logistics. Between 2023-2026, USAID, through the Economic Resilience Activity (ERA), is dedicating $115 million to support the State Agency for Restoration and Development of Infrastructure of Ukraine (SARDI), Ukrainian Railways (UZ), and State Customs Services, to upgrade border crossing points (BCPs) to improve grain trade and export volumes.  

USAID, through the Economic Resilience Activity (ERA), has delivered three 1-ton scales and 312 water filled road barriers, as well as installed 452 road signs, at four border crossing points (BCPs) on the borders with Poland, Romania, Slovakia, and Hungary. 

The delivered equipment is part of the rapid modernization of the BCPs, and is aimed at increasing the operational efficiency of the BCPs to improve cargo transportation logistics, thereby increasing trade volumes, grain exports, and overall transportation flows. 

Next, USAID ERA will install 30 recycling trash bins (waste sorting containers) at one of the BCPs in a move towards fostering environmental responsibility and resource recovery, in alignment with established practices in Europe. 

Between 2023-2026, USAID, through the Economic Resilience Activity (ERA), is dedicating $115 million to support the State Agency for Restoration and Development of Infrastructure of Ukraine (SARDI), Ukrainian Railways (UZ), and State Customs Services, to upgrade border crossing points (BCPs) to improve grain trade and export volumes, and passenger traffic.