USAID announces grant program in Ukraine to compensate 30% of grain handling equipment cost

MOSCOW. Oct 8 (Interfax) - USAID's Economic Resilience Activity in Ukraine has announced the launch of grant program for at least 20 Ukrainian agricultural logistics companies, entitling them to compensation for 30% of the cost of grain handling equipment acquired from Kobzarenko Plant LLC, Ukrainian media cited the donor organization's press service as saying in a statement on social media.

"USAID's support program for Ukrainian agricultural companies stipulates that if an enterprise purchases equipment from the manufacturer for 70% of its cost, the USAID project compensates 30%. This support for businesses is expected to increase grain export and handling capacity by 2.5 million tonnes per year," it said.

Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises the annual income of which does not exceed the sum equivalent to 40 million euros can buy equipment with a 30% discount.

However, this program is not available to agricultural holdings and companies that have already been provided with assistance from USAID or will receive it shortly, it said.

As part of the program, companies can acquire equipment such as RVM-180 mobile wagon unloaders, BNP-12 Kovcheg ground chaser bins, and SN-25 electric belt loaders, which will boost the efficiency of grain handling processes at all key points of the export route.

In addition, the USAID project stands ready to compensate 30% of the cost of 51 pieces of equipment from Kobzarenko Plant.