ArmInfo. The Armenian government is exploring various options for improving transport links with the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union, including the option of acquiring the "Port Caucasus" ferry crossing. Tigran Khachatryan, Minister of Economy of the Republic of Armenia, said at a hearing in a permanent parliamentary commission on regional and Eurasian integration, answering the question of the economist Tatul Manaseryan.
The economist suggested returning to the consideration of the project for the acquisition of the Port Caucasus ferry crossing. "It would not hurt for the state itself to take a direct part in this process, creating an open joint-stock company, the shares of which could later be placed with investors," Tatul Manaseryan said. He noted that, despite the measures taken to equip the Upper Lars checkpoint, the creation of "green corridors" and the introduction of an electronic warning system, the problem will remain, since there is an increase in freight traffic from year to year.
In response, Minister of Economy of the Republic of Armenia Tigran Khachatryan noted that the government is studying all possible reliable alternative checkpoints "Upper Lars" for exporting products to the EAEU markets.
Meanwhile, according to the chairman of the commission on regional and Eurasian integration, Mikayel Melkumyan, the implementation of the "ferry" project requires careful analysis, including, in terms of self- sufficiency, the number of ferries, its load, etc. The deputy recalled that the average cost of one ton of cargo through the ferry crossing is 10% -12% higher than the cost of transporting goods through the Upper Lars checkpoint. In addition, an interstate agreement with Georgia will be required, in which it will be necessary to take into account the presence of a terminal in the port of Poti. "But it is necessary to discuss this possibility," the MP stated, recalling that the logistics capabilities of Tskhinvali and Batumi due to political unsettled will be closed for a long time to Armenian exporters.