ArmInfo. And about. Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technologies Hakob Arshakyan received on December 14 Dmitry Gvindadze, the head of the Armenian office of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).The head of the office noted that the bank is ready to participate in the implementation of new and viable projects, providing more financial resources. The parties discussed the possibilities of expanding cooperation in the field of high technologies, communications, telecommunications, infrastructure and road construction.
The construction of the North-South transport corridor was also emphasized. It was noted that this is one of the strategically important programs for Armenia, which is in the center of attention of the Armenian government. Hakob Arshakyan stressed that "North-South" is not only a megaproject for Armenia, it is of great regional importance, as it will provide a corridor connecting Europe with the Middle East via the Black Sea basin by the shortest route. He also expressed the hope that the EBRD will make its own contribution to the implementation of this important program.Recall that the project to create a North-South transport corridor with a total length of 556 km will allow access to the Black Sea and European countries through Armenia (Meghri-Kapan-Goris-Yerevan-Ashtarak-Gyumri-Bavra) and Georgia.
The investment program is aimed at providing communication of the north (border with Georgia) and southern Armenia (border with Iran) through transport communications that meet high international standards, and access to world markets.As the authorities of Armenia expect, the program will allow the country to mitigate the consequences of the blockade from Azerbaijan and Turkey in the future, to play the role of a transit state in cargo transportation of the countries of the region, and also to join the Black Sea ring highway. Tenders for the construction of the first few lines of the route were won by the Spanish "Corsan Corviam", the last - to the Landzhik - Gyumri section in northern Armenia - the Chinese "Sinohydro Corporation". With the latter, the Ministry of Transport and Communications of Armenia signed a contract in May 2016 amounting to about $ 60 million in the framework of the 3rd tranche of the investment program, however, the project was disrupted due to poor-quality contract.
The Kajaran-Agarak project will be the fourth section of the North-South project.Within the framework of the project, it is planned to rebuild the arterial roads of Armenia from the Iranian to the Georgian border. Partially they will be rebuilt from asphalt to concrete, partially expanded. And in some areas they will build straight stretches instead of roundabout turns in the mountains.