ArmInfo. From June 15, a regular ferry service will be launched for Armenia from the Georgian port of Poti to the Russian Port of Kavkaz . Minister of Economy Vahan Kerobyan told journalists about this during a briefing on May 5, referring to the decision of the authorities.
"With this decision, the government is starting regular rail links with the EAEU railway system, which will connect Armenia not only with Russia, but also with other EAEU countries, in particular Belarus and the countries of Central Asia. As a result, we believe that trade with these countries and the non-European part of Russia will increase significantly," he said.
As Kerobyan explained, the state intends to subsidize this ferry service, at the same time the South Caucasian Railway (SCR) will lower tariffs (by 30%) in the direction of Russia with a link to the Eurasian railway system. According to him, the Russian (by 50%) and Georgian (by 25%) railways will also reduce the tariffs. "This will allow us to have competitive transport rates," the official stressed.
He also said that an Armenian company would become the operator of the ferry service, which, taking advantage of the opportunity provided by the government, signed an agreement with the SCR and Russian Railways. Earlier, according to the decision of the authorities, the SCR was supposed to act as the operator. "However, given the military developments in the region, which led to sanctions and contain additional risks, it was decided that an independent company not associated with any railway will become the operator," he noted.
According to the head of the department, the expediency of such a decision by the authorities is connected with the lack of a regular railway connection between Armenia and the Eurasian railway system. "The road through the Upper Lars checkpoint, through which road cargo transportation is carried out, is a high-cost and risky route, where the economy, and in particular the industry of Armenia, are exposed to great risks and suffer additional costs. In the conditions of such a system of cargo transportation, the country's economy is losing its competitiveness," he said.
