On August 6, 2024, U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink and representatives of USAID visited Ukraine’s Uzhhorod – Vyšné Nemecké border crossing point (BCP) in Zakarpattia Oblast to observe how recent infrastructure improvements by USAID’s Economic Resilience Activity (ERA) are enabling exports and supporting Ukraine’s economic recovery.
During the visit, Ambassador Brink inspected rapid upgrades of the BCP and entered one of the 10 fully-furnished prefabricated structures used as rest facilities by State Customs and Border Guard officials.
ERA’s BCP Director led the tour and highlighted the civil engineering improvements, such as upgrades to the canopy, LED lighting, drainage, and signage, as well as pavement and road marking and painting of the facilities. The Ambassador was quite impressed by ERA’s rapid upgrades.
A Government of Ukraine delegation, led by Head of Zakarpattia Oblast Military Administration Viktor Mykyta, also attended the tour and highlighted how Ukraine’s export and import cargo flows have changed during the war. Also in attendance were Head of Zakarpattia Regional Customs Oleksandr Semyrha, Head of SARDI in Zakarpattia Oblast Yurii Maksymenko, Commander of the Chop Border Detachment Vasyl Vitrovchak, Head of Zakarpattia Regional Council Roman Sarai, and Deputy Manager of the Executive Office of Zakarpattia Regional Council Taras Hayduk.
The Ambassador and officials observed the design rendering for the new passenger terminal that ERA is working on, and the officials thanked USAID and emphasized the importance of completing work on the terminal that was stalled in 2022.
The Uzhhorod – Vyšné Nemecké BCP operates both passenger and freight traffic. It is one of the main BCPs on Ukraine’s western border, with a current monthly export volume of 60,500 tons and monthly average traffic of 4,300 trucks. It is one of nine priority BCPs receiving USAID rapid upgrades and long-term improvement support, including the planned construction of a passenger terminal renovation.
ERA’s ongoing upgrade of Uzhhorod will increase safety and efficiency, improve accessibility, and build confidence in standards and processes. GoU partners estimate that by 2026, thanks to USAID support, the BCP will experience increased throughput by an additional 680 trucks/month, and increased agricultural turnover by 14,000 tons/month.
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).