By: Chris Devonshire Ellis

Chris Devonshire Ellis — Fri, 29 Jun 2018 10:34:34 +0000

Thanks for the update Simon. This is encouraging, however the transportation and logistics issue is still problematic. Let’s hope it continues to improve. It’s interesting to note that Armenia’s Belt & Road access route is via Georgia’s Black Sea to the West. The Azerbaijani’s remain aloof to giving Armenia any access to the Caspian – the main Middle Corridor gateway to China. But good they are getting access to Iran. The Armenian North-South Transportation Corridor is an interesting component part of the regional dynamics, and I shall follow that up with an article next week to redress the balance. I appreciate the heads up.

By: Simon Appleby

Simon Appleby — Fri, 29 Jun 2018 10:27:38 +0000

Armenia is a One Belt One Road beneficiary country, with Chinese energy firms making almost daily pitches at solar and HPP projects to displace the elderly nuclear power plant. The ADB-funded Armenian North-South Highway project will allow container trucks to travel from Georgia’s Black Sea port cities to the Iranian frontier in 14 hours; part of this is being built by OBOR-backed Chinese engineering firms. Armenian fruit producers are now capable of dispatching a container of apricots in the Ararat Valley Monday morning and unloading them in Dubai Port (via Iran’s Bandar Abbas Port) before close of business Friday, taking 10-14 days off the shipping time via Georgia, and OBOR-backed Chinese firms are helping with the infrastructure. There are a lot of interesting Belt and Road projects in Armenia in energy, agriculture, and IT likely to kick off in the next year.

Comments on: Baku, the City to Watch as China’s Belt and Road Divides the Caucasus

By: Chris Devonshire Ellis

By: Simon Appleby