KIEV, UKRAINE- (June 26, 2003) Earlier today, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) awarded a $408,121 grant for the development of an air cargo hub at Gostomel (Antonov) Airport, outside of Kiev. The grant was conferred at a signing ceremony at the U.S. Commercial Service office in Kiev. The U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine, Carlos Pascual, and the General Director of the Antonov Scientific/Technical Complex, Volodymyr Korol, signed the agreement on behalf of the U.S. and Ukrainian Governments.

Gostomel Airport is the operational base for Antonov Airlines, and is the location of its overhaul and repair facility. The USTDA-funded study will examine the possibility of the airport becoming a major air cargo hub in Eastern Europe. It will focus on modernizing the airport's shipping capabilities, and will include a design for computer logistics technology that will allow for more efficient cargo processing. If implemented the new system is expected to reduce the amount of time needed to process a shipment from six days to 48 to 72 hours. Solid Team, LLC of Claremont, California, is the U.S. contractor that will perform the study, which is part of an overall redevelopment plan for the airport.

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, feasibility studies, 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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