Armenian minister and ADB team discuss north-south transport corridor
07.02.2020,
15:35
Armenia's Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Suren Papikyan and an Asian Development Bank (ADB) team, led by Dong-Xu Pe, Director of the Transport and Communications Board for Central and West Asia, discussed February 6 in Yerevan the current status of the ADB-financed North-South transport corridor project.
YEREVAN, February 7. /ARKA/. Armenia's Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Suren Papikyan and an Asian Development Bank (ADB) team, led by Dong-Xu Pe, Director of the Transport and Communications Board for Central and West Asia, discussed February 6 in Yerevan the current status of the ADB-financed North-South transport corridor project.
"The construction of the North-South transport corridor is one of our priority projects , which is of strategic importance both for Armenia and the region," Papikyan said, adding that the government has the political will to quickly resolve the problems that have accumulated over the years.
Pe stated that ADB is ready to assist the Armenian government in any matter in order to complete the project on time.
"The approval by the ADB Board of an agreement on a framework financing of the North-South road for another 5 years is an unprecedented decision, therefore, both parties should make efforts to complete the program," Pe said.
The goal of Armenia's 556 km-long North-South Transport Corridor project is to upgrade Armenia’s main corridor road as part of a broader thrust to improve connectivity, and boost trade, growth and livelihood opportunities in the Caucasus and Central Asia sub-regions.
The transport corridor is to stretch from the southern Armenian town of Meghri, on the border with Iran, to Bavra in the north on the border with Georgia. The North-South transport corridor will enable Armenia to mitigate the effects of the blockade imposed by Azerbaijan and Turkey.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) provided Armenia with a $500 million loan to finance this strategic project. It is said that $200 million of that amount has been already utilized.-0-
"The construction of the North-South transport corridor is one of our priority projects , which is of strategic importance both for Armenia and the region," Papikyan said, adding that the government has the political will to quickly resolve the problems that have accumulated over the years.
Pe stated that ADB is ready to assist the Armenian government in any matter in order to complete the project on time.
"The approval by the ADB Board of an agreement on a framework financing of the North-South road for another 5 years is an unprecedented decision, therefore, both parties should make efforts to complete the program," Pe said.
Currently, a 7-km section of the Talin-Lanjik road is currently being reconstructed with ADB funding,. Also, , a consulting engineer will be invited to help prepare a tender for the Ashtarak-Talin section (42 km) . Also about 51.7 km section of the Vanadzor-Alaverdi-Georgia (M6) interstate highway is being repaired.
The goal of Armenia's 556 km-long North-South Transport Corridor project is to upgrade Armenia’s main corridor road as part of a broader thrust to improve connectivity, and boost trade, growth and livelihood opportunities in the Caucasus and Central Asia sub-regions.
The transport corridor is to stretch from the southern Armenian town of Meghri, on the border with Iran, to Bavra in the north on the border with Georgia. The North-South transport corridor will enable Armenia to mitigate the effects of the blockade imposed by Azerbaijan and Turkey.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) provided Armenia with a $500 million loan to finance this strategic project. It is said that $200 million of that amount has been already utilized.-0-
