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USTDA SUPPORTS AIR CARGO HUB IN UKRAINE

KIEV, UKRAINE (September 24, 2007) – The rehabilitation of the Bila Tserkva airport in Ukraine and construction of cargo facilities to transform the airport into an air cargo hub is the goal of a USTDA grant awarded today to the Bila Tserkva City Council. The grant will fund a technical and economic analysis of the air cargo hub project.

The $238,843 grant was conferred at a signing ceremony at Bila Tserkva City Hall. U.S. Ambassador William B. Taylor, Jr. and Bila Tserkva Mayor Vasyl P. Savtchuk signed the grant agreement on behalf of the U.S. government and the Bila Tserkva City Council, respectively.

Based on the burgeoning need for air cargo services in Ukraine (which is estimated to increase 12 percent per year for the next few years), the Bila Tserkva City Council, in conjunction with Solid Team, LLC of Claremont, CA, is developing the former Bila Tserkva military airport into an air cargo hub. The airport is well situated to become an air cargo hub given its location near Kiev, on a major highway route and near railway links. The proposed rehabilitation project includes a runway extension; air traffic control upgrades; the construction of an air cargo terminal, fire station and industrial park; and the installation of airport security systems. When completed, the facility will be able to process 90,000 metric tons of cargo per year.

The Bila Tserkva City Council has selected Solid Team, LLC to conduct the study. In addition to the USTDA grant, Solid Team, LLC will provide resources toward the completion of the study.

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency advances economic development and U.S. commercial interests in developing and middle-income countries. The agency funds various forms of technical assistance, early investment analysis, training, orientation visits and business workshops that support the development of a modern infrastructure and a fair and open trading environment. USTDA's strategic use of foreign assistance funds to support sound investment policy and decision-making in host countries creates an enabling environment for trade, investment and sustainable economic development. In carrying out its mission, USTDA gives emphasis to economic sectors that may benefit from U.S. exports of goods and services.

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