The Government of Armenia has approved the signing of three grant agreements with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) related to the construction of two modern customs and logistics centers in Yerevan and Syunik Province.
The total cost of the projects is estimated at approximately €57 million. Of this amount, €49 million will be provided by the EBRD as loan financing, and an additional €8 million will be grant funds. The Yerevan center will receive funding of up to €45 million, including an EBRD loan of €39 million and an EU grant of €6 million. The facility in Syunik is allocated €12 million, of which €10 million is a bank loan and €2 million is a grant.
The customs and logistics center in Syunik Province is planned to be built near Shaki village, not far from Sisian, on an area of 7.7 hectares. The complex will operate on a "one-stop, one-window" principle, include an administrative building and a rooftop solar power plant.
The Yerevan center will be located in Proshyan village, Kotayk Province. It will serve participants in foreign economic activity, and some functions of the State Revenue Committee will be transferred to the new building. All main procedures are planned to be digitized, which should reduce cargo clearance time and increase the efficiency of customs control.
The grant agreements also provide for technical assistance in procurement, construction supervision, documentation preparation, and obtaining international environmental certification. According to the EBRD, both facilities could become some of the first public buildings in Armenia to meet international "green" building standards.