The newly appointed Governor of Shirak Province, Davit Arushanyan, stated that the "Dry Port" project in Gyumri remains a priority, tied to the ongoing process of border openings. According to him, the project is regularly discussed, with potential investors being invited to participate in its implementation.
The governor highlighted priorities in working with investors, emphasizing the importance of supporting existing local businesses. "The best investor is the entrepreneur who is already active in the community. Many local business owners are unaware of existing state support programs that could help them expand their businesses and create new jobs," Arushanyan noted.
He also drew attention to challenges in implementing co-financed programs, pointing out significant issues in quality control and adherence to deadlines.
"The situation is absurd: the community has funds, the government approves financing, but we fail to properly organize the tender process and construction," the governor stressed, pledging to tighten oversight of project implementation and enforce penalties on unreliable contractors.
BMG recalls that in January 2024, Armenia's Investment Committee gave preliminary approval for the construction of a "Dry Port" industrial park in Gyumri. At the time, it was announced that the government planned to invest $37 million in the project. The facility is to be built adjacent to Shirak Airport, strategically located near the airport, railway, and North-South Highway.
The "Dry Port" is designed as a multifunctional, multimodal hub for local and international companies requiring consolidated customs processing, which could help them reduce operational costs. According to the outlined objectives, the industrial park is projected to contribute 3% to Armenia's GDP.
