YEREVAN /ARKA/. The State Rev- enue Committee of Armenia and the Italian company IRD Engineering signed an agreement on Friday to sup- port the implementation of the Syunik customs and logistics center construction program, the SRC press service reported. The program, costing €14.4 mil- lion, is being implemented through a loan and grant from the EBRD, co- financed by the Armenian government. The signing ceremony was at- tended by SRC Chairman Eduard Hakobyan, Italian Ambassador to Ar- menia Alessandra Ferranti, Head of the EBRD Office in Armenia George Akhalkatsi, IRD Engineering Execu- tive Director Paolo Orsini, and heads of the committee’s departments. SRC Chairman Hakobyan noted the program’s strategic importance, stating that the center will be an im- portant step in positioning Armenia as a regional logistics hub. “The Syunik Customs and Logis- tics Center is not just a major infra- structure project. It is also a practical reflection of the Armenian govern- ment’s ‘Crossroads of Peace’ initia- tive,” he said. About the Customs and Logistics Center Construction is scheduled to begin in 2027. The center will be built on land adjacent to the Shaki community, near the North-South highway corridor. The center aims to simplify cargo transportation to the south and digi- talize customs processes. The center will operate on the “one-stop, one-stop” principle, allow- ing businesses to complete all neces- sary customs procedures in a single location. The project includes the installa- tion of X-ray scanners and inspection equipment, service areas and truck parking, administrative and support in- frastructure, digital management sys- tems, and energy-efficient solutions. The design and engineering work has been entrusted to IRD Engineer- ing. The project is also applying for LEED green building certification. It includes energy-efficient and water- saving solutions, green areas and the possibility of using renewable energy.