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The reopening of the Turkish border could significantly boost trade volume between Armenia and Türkiye, potentially doubling it to $700-800 million annually, Armenia's Economy Minister Gevorg Papoyan said Tuesday.
During a parliamentary session, Gevorg Papoyan said the Armenian government is actively assessing how such a move would affect trade flows, including which products could be imported and exported. The minister noted that extensive planning and negotiations are required before any concrete steps can be taken.
Papoyan emphasized that one of the primary advantages for Armenia would be access to Turkish ports, especially those along the Mediterranean, offering a more direct and efficient route for trade. The potential to utilize Turkish infrastructure, such as the Alican-Margara border crossing and additional routes via Georgia, could pave the way for smoother logistics.
In terms of specific products, Armenia expects to benefit from cheaper imports of goods like pharmaceuticals, electronic devices, and raw materials for local production. In return, the country would have the opportunity to export locally produced goods to Türkiye, enhancing bilateral trade relations.
Recently, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that the Armenia-Türkiye border could be opened soon, noting that the issue had been under discussion for a long time and that everything was ready.
The Türkiye-Armenia border has been closed since 1993, following the first Karabakh War. There are two border gates, and the reopening was first brought to the agenda after the Azerbaijan-Armenia peace deal was signed in August.
Although full border reopening has not yet materialized, there has been some trade between the two countries.
While the border remains closed for now, trade between Armenia and Türkiye has been ongoing. In 2024, the trade volume reached approximately $336.3 million, according to data from the Armenia Statistics Committee (SCRA). A significant portion of this trade involves Armenia importing goods from Türkiye; however, the opening of the border is expected to greatly increase this figure.
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