The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has announced partnerships with three new companies to help Ukraine overcome the immediate and long-term export logistics challenges caused by Russia’s full-scale war.
Nibulon announced this in a statement, the CFTS portal reports.
USAID, Grain Alliance, Kernel, and Nibulon plan to make combined investments of more than USD 44 million, which are projected to increase Ukraine’s grain shipping capacity by over 3.35 million tons annually, bolstering Ukraine’s economy and bringing much-needed grain to the global market, the company said in the statement.
According to the statement, the co-investments include USD 8 million from the USAID Agriculture Resilience Initiative-Ukraine (AGRI-Ukraine) and more than USD 36 million from these three private sector partners.
The transshipment investments will increase grain export operations at three terminals: Izmail and Reni in Ukraine, both on the Danube, and Čierna nad Tisou in Slovakia, the statement said.
According to the statement, the investments by Kernel and Nibulon cover a range of expansion needs, including design and construction to renovate berths at the Port of Reni and to expand the Port of Izmail operations capabilities.
Grain Alliance will be purchasing a transshipment storage facility in Slovakia, which will include building silos and procuring transport equipment such as trucks and railcars, the statement said.
According to the statement, USAID’s funding is being used to procure grain loading equipment, temporary storage structures, and remanufactured locomotives for use in Ukraine.
"Agriculture, the bedrock of the Ukrainian economy, accounts for nearly 20% of Ukraine’s GDP, employs 20% of the workforce, and generates over 40% of total export revenues. The USAID-led AGRI-Ukraine helps Ukraine increase its capacity to produce, store, and export grain to the world and stabilize global prices," the statement said.
