Overchuk: Crossroads of main int’l transport corridors being formed in South Caucasus

The unblocking of transport communication between the western districts of Azerbaijan and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic through the territory of Armenia or Iran will have a special role in creating crossroads for the main international transport corridors North-South and East-West, Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Alexey Overchuk said at the plenary session “Logistics of change: transformation of supply chains and transport and logistics flows” of the International Export Forum “Made in Russia – 2022” in a video message format, Report informs.

“The crossroads of the main international transport corridors North-South and East-West is being formed in the South Caucasus. If it is created, the economies of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia will begin to receive additional rent associated with the advantage of their geographical position in Eurasia. A significant role in this connection will be played by the unblocking of transport communication between the western regions of Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan through the territory of Armenia or Iran,” he said.

Overchuk noted that Azerbaijan and Iran have begun construction of bridges on the border, which will connect the roads of the two countries and allow for the shortest and most convenient movement between the western regions of Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan. At the same time, the construction of a railway and a highway through Meghri through the territory of Armenia depends on the position of Armenia itself.

“At the same time, a road bypassing Armenia is already being built through Iran, that is, by about 2024 there will be a road, and it will provide access to the markets of Iran, Turkiye and further Europe. To a large extent, the infrastructure of the North-South international transport corridor already exists, and it carries out road and rail transportation, but it does not meet the expected increase in traffic volumes and needs modernization and increasing of capacities,” Overchuk explained.