Armenia to Join the Ashgabat Agreement for Transport Links Development

Armenia will join the Agreement on the creation of an international transport and transit corridor between Iran, Oman, Qatar, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, known as the Ashgabat Agreement. The corresponding project was approved by the country's government at a meeting on May 8. According to Armenpress, Armenia’s participation in the agreement will open new opportunities for integration into the transport corridor connecting Central Asia with the Gulf ports and the Arabian Sea. Joining will contribute to improving conditions for the transportation of goods and passengers, optimizing transport costs, and strengthening Armenia's transit role. Moreover, the agreement will simplify customs procedures, provide access to international markets, and create equal conditions for transport organizations of all participants. The Ashgabat Agreement is an international agreement between the governments of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, India, Pakistan, and Oman, aimed at creating a transport and transit corridor that simplifies the transportation of goods between Central Asia and the Gulf countries. The agreement came into force in April 2016. The main goal of the agreement is to enhance connectivity among the countries of the Eurasian region and integrate this corridor with other important transport routes, such as the North-South Transport Corridor.