Armenian-Kazakh protocol to enhance Armenia`s transit role in region

ArmInfo.  When transporting cargo, carriers often encounter problems related not to the vehicles, but to the cargo itself. This was stated on May 7 by Armen Simonyan, Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of the Republic of Armenia, during the submission for ratification of the  protocol to the Armenian-Kazakhstani agreement "On International  Automobile Communications".

According to him, this concerns, in particular, permits for  transportation, volumes of exported or imported products. Cargo  carriers raise these issues, and the department, within the framework  of its authority, tries to resolve them. Often, the deputy minister  continued, problems arise at the "Upper Lars" checkpoint, especially  in winter and during seasonal deliveries. In order to avoid traffic  jams at the checkpoint, electronic registration for the queue is  carried out, while waiting for which drivers park their cars in  special parking lots. The Deputy Minister reported that the Georgian  side plans to complete the construction of a bypass road towards  Upper Lars by the end of this year or the beginning of next year,  which will allow the checkpoint to be used around the clock.

Presenting the protocol itself, Deputy Minister of Territorial  Administration and Infrastructure of the Republic of Armenia Armen  Simonyan noted that the intergovernmental agreement between Armenia  and Kazakhstan was signed on November 6, 2006, and the protocol - on  April 15, 2024. In the process of implementing the current agreement,  a problem arose related to legislative regulation in the issue of  collecting road and environmental taxes. To resolve the issue, it  became necessary to amend the agreement, which will regulate the  process of providing benefits by the parties to exempt vehicles  registered in the territories of the states from taxes and fees. In  order to resolve the above issue, a corresponding protocol was  signed, the application of which will facilitate the process of cargo  transportation by road between the two countries and increase the  role of Armenia's transit in organizing cargo transportation in the  region.

It is expected that the vote on the protocol will be held on May 8.  It should be noted that according to the RA Statistical Committee, in  2024, foreign trade turnover between Armenia and Kazakhstan decreased  by 23.6%, amounting to $84.1 million. In particular, exports  decreased by 33.2% - to $54.1 million against the background of a  decrease in imports by 0.9% - to $30 million.