Power and infrastructure of International airport “Kharkiv” (DCH group headed by Alexandr Yaroslavsky) can be used for import-export operations of Ukrainian agricultural producers. Such prospects were discussed by experts at AGRO-AVIA conference. The main topic of the event held in Kharkiv as a part of International forum on family farming development AGROPORT-2014 under the aegis of the UN was modern transport logistics and storage methods of national agribusiness products.
Members of the conference paid special attention to the fact that the airport reconstructed to Euro-2012 (the main part of investments to the project are the investments of Alexandr Yaroslavsky) has a developed infrastructure and wide technical possibilities. “Our cargo terminal can serve different kinds of goods. Storage facilities are 1100 m2, including premises with cooling and freezing equipment. An official operator of the cargo terminal is Polex Express LLC. It has a great working experience and a wide customer base. It can send goods to any place of the World providing it with broker forwarding and also all foreign trade operations”, — Vladyslav Ilyin, Head of commercial department of International airport “Kharkiv”, underlined.
At AGRO-AVIA experts also discussed prospects of general aviation used in agriculture, in particular import and export of agricultural products, development and possibilities of region transport infrastructure as the main condition for foreign markets. Special attention was paid to customs regulation of agribusiness foreign economic activity. Acting Head of Kharkiv Customs of Ministry of Revenue and Duties Valeriy Ostapchuk mentioned that farmers don’t have a necessity to understand deeply these things – it’s better to ensure the support of specialists. But of course minimal familiarity with it should be. “Now Ukrainian agribusiness has filled in the quota regime for import of Ukrainian honey to Europe. A farmer has to find out the list of necessary documents from the receiver before the cargo shipping”, — the officer underlined.
Experts are sure that active using of the airport possibilities by agricultural producers is a prospective and mutually-beneficial process due to the current market conditions. Grigoriy Shcherban, CEO of Polex Express LLC, mentioned that the cargo terminal with capacity of 30-40 tonnes per day is vacant now. Due to this in the nearest future we plan to launch a program of cargo charters and also organize an expedited shipping. “For our clients we are ready to organize air carriage of large goods for about $6 per 1 kg”, — Grigoriy Shcherban told.
As told before at first the idea of AGROPORT-2014 holding belonged to the management of International airport “Kharkiv”. It’s decision was made by the top-management because the airport has well-developed infrastructure and wide technical capabilities that can be used for holding of different huge events; the airport has an active position accordingly the idea of the UN to proclaim 2014 year an International year of family farming; the airport wishes to make its contribution to the deal of investment attractiveness and business activity increase of Slobojanscchina. Forum is called one of the greatest agricultural events of Eastern Europe. This is the first time when such an event is held on the territory of the airport.
“Ukraine has demonstrated to the World that it can get back the status of World ‘cornloft’ and come to the first positions of international ratings of food supplies. I am sure that it is the reason why leading foreign experts showed a great interest to the forum. In this regard I want to say thank you to the management of Kharkiv airport and personally Alexandr Vladilenovich Yaroslavsky for the support of the initiative to hold AGROPORT”, — Vladyslav Gubin, CEO of Tractor plant named after S. Ordzhonikidze JSC – one of the event partners, told at the official opening ceremony.
Background
AGROPORT-2014 (www.agro-port.com) is the first branch forum of family farming development in Ukraine. Target audience is farmers, agricultural companies, suppliers of raw material and equipment for agriculture, investment companies, financial structures, specialized national establishments and departments. Also representatives of the UN and FAO (Food and agricultural organization) have been invited to take part in the event. The primary sponsor of the forum is Tractor plant named after S. Ordzhonikidze JSC. Partners: Era radio, informational analytical portal APK vegetables and fruit, informational agency AgroNews, Ukrainian informational agency Interfax, Kharkiv website 057.ua, online version of the newspaper Ridne Selo, newspapers: Business, Agrosnab, Agrarnik, Slobidsky Kray, Autodvor, Reklama na selo.
The strategic partner is International airport “Kharkiv” (http://hrk.aero/) – one of the key objects of Slobozhanshchina capital, reconstructed in preparation for the finals of European Football Championship in 2012. Sizes of a new runway are 2500 х 45 m. Start of large-scale project was given on April 1, 2008, when New Systems AM LLC (a group of DCH, the owner – a well-known Ukrainian businessman, investor and general coordinator of Kharkiv’s preparations for Euro 2012, in 2005-2012 – the president of FC Metalist Alexander Yaroslavsky) won the competition for a long-term rent of the integral property complex of Kharkiv airport.
Reconstruction of International airport “Kharkiv” was made in the format of public-private partnership. The total investment to the project made by Alexander Yaroslavsky was $ 107.2 million (airport terminal and surrounding areas).
The amount of funding allocated from the State budget for the reconstruction of the airport complex (including construction and airfield control tower) – $ 191.3 million.
