Armenian, Turkish ministers discuss railway connectivity, TRIPP project

Armenian Minister of Economy Gevorg Papoyan met with Turkish Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı in Istanbul.

Both sides emphasized the importance of regular Armenia-Türkiye contacts and reaffirmed their readiness to continue the dialogue, Minister Papoyan said in a statement on social media.

Minister İbrahim Yumaklı highly appreciated the recent visit of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to Türkiye, emphasizing its positive impact on the development of bilateral relations, Papoyan added.

“We discussed the possibilities of reopening the Kars-Gyumri railway connection and the new economic, logistical, and trade opportunities for both countries arising through the TRIPP project. During the conversation, attention was given to opportunities for market diversification, the creation of new logistical routes, and the expansion of mutual economic interests. Issues related to cooperation in the agricultural sector were also discussed, in particular regarding agricultural insurance, as well as joint efforts to combat hail damage and livestock diseases,” Papoyan said.

Permanent Representative of Armenia to the BSEC, Nairi Petrossian, also participated in the meeting.

The Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) is a connectivity project in Armenia, envisaged under the U.S.-brokered Armenian-Azerbaijani joint declaration signed in Washington, D.C. The project is expected to unlock strategic economic opportunities, create long-term benefits by promoting infrastructure investment, and enhance regional connectivity. TRIPP is part of the Crossroads of Peace project, and an Armenian-American joint enterprise is expected to develop the route.