Adviser On Technical Study Of Armenia-Georgia Highway Construction P

ADVISER ON TECHNICAL STUDY OF ARMENIA-GEORGIA HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION PROJECT TO START WORKING IN APR

ARKA
March 27, 2009

YEREVAN, March 27. /ARKA/. The advisor on a technical study of the
construction of a North-South corridor between Armenia and Georgia
is to start working this April.

RA Minister of Transport and Communication Gurgen Sargsyan reported
that the North-South project is a most important one and is viewed
as a regional transport project.

"A feasibility study is in progress now, and the work is to get
under way after the company that wins a contest announced by the
Asian Development Bank becomes known. That will be the first step in
constructing the highway," the Minister said.

G. Sargsyan also reported that the issue of construction will be
considered by the Ministers of Transport of the Black Sea Economic
Cooperation Organization (BSEC) at their meeting in Yerevan today.

The technical study of the North-South project is incorporated in
the programs of the Asian Development Bank for 2009, and the bank
has stated its intention of issue a $1mln grant.

As regards the funding of the highway construction,
the bank offers step-by-step financing. The
Yerevan-Gyumri-Ninotsminda-Akhaltskha-Batumi highway is part of the
North-South transport corridor.