I Was Pleasantly Surprised Today: Nikol Pashinyan Speaks at the Opening of the Friendship Bridge

At the official opening of the Friendship Bridge on the Armenia-Georgia border, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan addressed Armenian-Georgian relations and the increase in trade turnover.

"Undoubtedly, the centuries-old ties between our two fraternal countries, rooted in shared values and historical heritage, require such important infrastructure that aligns with modern demands and provides a solid foundation for our future extensive cooperation. I am more than convinced that today we have all the necessary prerequisites to develop and deepen relations with fraternal Georgia in accordance with the key priorities of Armenia's foreign policy. In the context of the current complex challenges, a remarkable increase has been recorded in Armenian-Georgian trade and economic relations. I was pleasantly surprised today to note that we have a 97 percent increase in trade turnover compared to the same period last year," said Pashinyan.

He emphasized that Armenian-Georgian trade and economic relations have even greater potential. According to the Prime Minister, there are serious opportunities for deepening cooperation in various sectors, including industry, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, information and communication, transportation, energy, tourism, and others.

"Communication routes are of key importance for the development of trade and economic relations. They allow us to integrate into the global economy and establish and ensure vital connections at regional and international levels. The priority in our bilateral cooperation in the transportation sector and the interaction in several international transportation structures provide us with the opportunity to take realistic steps not only for the international transportation corridors from the Persian Gulf to the Black Sea but also for other initiatives that ensure critical connections in the transportation sector," he said.

The construction of the Sadakhlo-Bagratashen checkpoint on the Armenia-Georgia border began in May 2021. The new bridge, consisting of two parts, complies with international standards and will have a throughput that is 3-4 times greater. It was put into trial operation at the beginning of August. The opening ceremony featured speeches from the Prime Ministers of Armenia and Georgia.