Expert: Armenia strategically needs alternative to Upper Lars border crossing (VIDEO)
YEREVAN, July 17. /ARKA/. In an interview with ARKA news agency’s ARKA-Business program broadcast on Youtube channel, the co-founder of Spinnaker Group LLC Norayr Gevorgyan, who is a member of Mantashyants international business club, speaks about the need of creating an alternative to the Upper Lars border crossing for Armenia.
Upper Lars checkpoint on the Georgian-Russia border is the only overland route connecting Armenia and Russia.
"There is no alternative to Upper Lars border crossing, but there should be one, because it is important both politically and strategically. The alternative to Upper Lars should be predominantly in the form of an air and sea routes. That is, we need a ship or a ferry," he said.
Gevorgyan noted that ferries should be able to carry not only containers but also trucks as an alternative to the Upper Lars crossing. According to him, Armenia's current ferry service is not designed for trucks, but only for containers, while most of Armenia's cargo transportation is done by trucks.
The full Armenian-language interview is available on the Youtube channel of ARKA agency here.
Ferry service
Earlier, Armenpress news agency reported the launch of cargo transportation by sea from Georgian port of Batumi to Novorossiysk in Russia and in the opposite direction as an alternative to the Upper Lars. Cargo is said to reach destination within 20-24 hours.
The Armenian government promised to pay the operator of the ferry 120 million drams for each trip. This is s expected to facilitate access of Armenian freight forwarding companies to logistics infrastructures, stimulate the export of Armenian-made products and significantly increase the volume of cargo transportation.
EDB project on Upper Lars
The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) said last month it would invest approximately $150 million in a $200 million project to upgrade the Upper Lars checkpoint on the Russian-Georgian border. A memorandum to that end was signed between EDB and KAVKAZ.RF company on the sidelines of the Eurasian Congress -23 in the southern Russian city of Sochi.
The implementation of the project will improve the conditions of border crossing for drivers engaged in international road transport, as well as for passengers.
The project envisages creation of a secure parking lot for 350 cars, a hotel, a modular office building to accommodate customs and service organizations, a maintenance area for cars, gas stations, an area for charging electric cars, a tourist information center, stores, cafes, etc.
Also, a multifunctional wholesale distribution center will be built for storage of food products with a constantly maintained temperature regime, including freezers. -0-
