Armenia opens historic rail trade route to Turkey via Georgia

ALBAWABA- Armenia has gained new rail access to Turkey through Georgia, marking a significant shift in regional connectivity and a breakthrough in long-isolated trade routes, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced on Sunday.

The newly operational route uses the Akhalkalaki–Kars railway corridor, passing through Georgian territory and linking Armenian cargo to eastern Turkey. The line connects into the broader Baku–Tbilisi–Kars (BTK) rail network, enabling onward access to European and global markets.

Pashinyan described the development as “a major event in our country’s economic life,” thanking Turkey and Georgia for their cooperation in enabling the new trade pathway.

The opening of the route gives Armenia its first sustained rail access to Turkey in decades via Georgia, significantly easing long-standing transport constraints. The corridor is expected to reduce logistics costs and delivery times for Armenian exports and imports.

Key expected benefits include improved access to Turkish markets, expanded connectivity to the European Union through Turkish logistics hubs, and diversification of Armenia’s trade routes alongside existing links with Russia, Iran, and China.

Export sectors such as agriculture, mining, and manufacturing are expected to benefit most from improved freight efficiency and lower transport barriers.
The development comes amid gradual improvements in Armenia’s regional relations, including recent steps toward expanded transport connectivity and easing of trade restrictions between Armenia and Turkey earlier this year.

It also aligns with Armenia’s broader “Crossroads of Peace” initiative, which promotes regional integration and economic cooperation across the South Caucasus.

The shift follows major geopolitical changes in the region after the Second Nagorno-Karabakh war in 2020 and subsequent developments in 2023, which reshaped territorial control and intensified efforts toward normalization and infrastructure reopening.

The new rail link is being viewed as part of a wider “peace dividend,” aimed at restoring economic ties, improving regional mobility, and reducing the legacy of long-standing blockades.

Officials say further details on freight volumes, operational schedules, and commercial agreements are expected in the coming weeks as the corridor becomes fully integrated into regional logistics networks.

المصدر: Al Bawaba