Expert: Armenia should use Georgian, Turkish transit opportunities

ArmInfo. In order to fully use transit opportunities with Georgia, it is necessary to enter into bilateral negotiations in order to eliminate those measures that are mutually applied to cargo carriers due to the fault of the Armenian side. A similar opinion was expressed by economist Tigran Jrbashyan, presenting the results of the "Ameria" company's "Alternative Wine Export Markets" study.

He noted that Georgia is the only country outside the EAEU with which  Armenia has concluded a free trade agreement. However, Armenia once  required Georgian cargoes to submit mandatory Armenian insurance, in  response to which Georgia required Armenians to pay a mandatory road  tax. As Jrbashyan noted, these provisions contradict the free trade  agreement. "I think that it is possible to negotiate and mutually  refuse these fees," the expert said, recalling that the bulk of  Armenia's exports go through the territory of Georgia.

At the same time, he considered it possible to resolve the transit  issue with Turkey. "This is one of the most interesting transit roads  for us. Especially considering the overload of Georgian ports due to  the Russian- Ukrainian war," the head of the Ameria consulting  service noted. He recalled that Turkey has closed its market for  Armenian goods, but its transit capabilities can be used.

Jrbashyan also pointed out the need to create a cargo terminal and  intensify air cargo transportation on the basis of the existing  agreement with Turkey. "Air transportation should be carried out at  least twice a week," he said. The expert also drew attention to the  capabilities of Amazon Air in the context of air cargo  transportation.

70% of Armenian export goods pass through the territory of Georgia  (Upper Lars Checkpoint ).  In January 2023, the Turkish side informed  Armenia about the lifting of the ban on direct air cargo  transportation. However, the Armenian-Turkish land border has been  closed since 1993 on the initiative of Ankara.