Category: 2023

Iran inks deal to construct part of INSTC in Armenia

Albert Nalbandian
TEHRAN TIMES
Iran – Oct 24 2023
  1. Economy
– 13:25

TEHRAN – Iran and Armenia have signed a contract for the construction of the Agarak-Kajaran route as part of Tranche 4 of the International North-South Transit Corridor (INSTC) in the Armenian territory, IRNA reported.

As reported, based on the deal, which was signed in the presence of Iranian Transport and Urban Development Minister Mehrdad Bazrpash and Armenia’s Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures Gnel Sanosyan, Iranian companies are to construct the mentioned road.

According to Bazrpash, the Armenian side is going to fund the project which is worth $210 million.

The contract was signed during a visit of an Iranian delegation headed by the country’s transport minister to Armenia.

During this visit, Bazrpash met and held talks with several high-ranking Armenian officials including the country’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

In this meeting, the two sides announced a decision to increase the value of annual trade between the two countries to $3.0 billion.

Referring to the bilateral relations between Tehran and Yerevan, Bazrpash said that economic exchanges between the two countries can be increased to three times the current level which is about $1.0 billion.

He announced Iran's readiness to build a second border bridge in the Nordouz region and welcomed the presence of Armenian investment companies in Iran.

The official also expressed the country’s readiness for the export of technical and engineering services to Armenia.

In early September, ARMENPRESS reported that Armenia is seeking to export its goods through Iran to the Arab countries of the region and India, as the country is trying to also increase trade with the Islamic Republic.

“Armenia and Iran attach great importance to the prospect of carrying out shipments through the Persian Gulf-Black Sea logistic route, and the Armenian side is maximally seeking to support the implementation of this megaproject, attaching great importance to the use of its own territory. The option of exporting Armenian goods through Iranian territory to Arab countries and India is also under discussion, and in this context, the parties have decided to find solutions through joint efforts and simplify the procedures applied from both sides on that road,” Armenia’s commercial attaché to Iran Vardan Kostanyan told ARMENPRESS.

“We are now looking into the untapped potential and opportunities to utilize them in bilateral cooperation. On the other hand, our neighbor is still under sanctions, therefore while carrying out economic policy we are unconditionally taking into consideration this fact. Iran provides state support and protection to companies investing in its economy,” Kostanyan said, highlighting direct meetings between business representatives.

According to Kostanyan, both sides are seeking new opportunities to further develop trade. The two countries plan to increase bilateral trade to one billion dollars, and then to three billion dollars.

He further noted that Iran plans to open eight new free economic zones, bringing the number of its free zones to 15.

Armenia’s membership to the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and its land border with Iran gives opportunities for establishing enterprises and carrying out broad joint projects, he said.

Iran and Armenia are working to significantly increase trade turnover. Last year bilateral trade stood at $714 million, while the data of this year’s first half shows a 13 percent increase, which in turn shows that the positive pace of dynamics is maintained.

On August 25, an exhibition showcasing the products offered by Iranian and Armenian companies in the fields of agriculture, manufacturing, and tourism opened in Yerevan with the purpose of boosting bilateral trade between the two countries.

Hojatollah Abdolmaleki, the secretary of Iran's Free Zones High Council and presidential advisor was personally leading a delegation to Armenia and attended the event.

EF/MA

https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/490509/Iran-inks-deal-to-construct-part-of-INSTC-in-Armenia

Iranian knowledge-based firms developing market in Armenia

Emil Lazarian
TEHRAN TIMES
Iran – Oct 24 2023
  1. Society
– 15:34

TEHRAN – Some 15 Iranian knowledge-based companies are expanding their sales markets in Armenia.

The Iranian trade and technology delegation participated in the Business to Business (B2B) meetings in Armenia from October 19 to 21, IRNA reported.

The delegation was supported by the Center of International Science and Technology Cooperation (CISTC).

The B2B meetings were held with the member companies of the Armenian Chamber of Commerce.

In this regard, Andranik Aleksanyan, the head of the Armenian Chamber of Commerce, emphasized that Iranian companies should not consider the Armenian market as a small market, but rather the gateway to Eurasia.

They also visited the Armenian organization for supporting foreign investment (Enterprise Armenia) and industrial areas to identify new markets and examine markets’ needs by companies.

The Iranian delegation discussed the opportunities to expand the markets of their products in the international arena.

Meeting Armenian officials, Razieh Kohansal, an official with the Vice Presidency for Science and Technology, elaborated on Iran's capacities in the knowledge-based field and the possibility of meeting the technological needs of Armenian companies.

She said, "One of our goals is to develop cooperation between Iranian and Armenian companies to increase the share of our exports to this country,” IRNA reported.

Iran exports a variety of different goods to Armenia every year. Sharing borders with this country, and fast and cheap transportation makes Armenia a good export destination.

Armenia imports various goods from other countries, particularly neighboring countries.

Being one of Armenia's major trading partners, Iran is trying to improve its position in the market of this country.

Iran-Armenia sci-tech co-op

In June 2022, Armenian Ambassador to Iran Arsen Avagyan met with Iranian deputy science minister Vahid Haddadi-Asl, discussing ways to broaden ties in the fields of science and technology.

The two sides expressed readiness to exchange university students, transfer technology, and create research centers, IRNA reported.

Houses of innovation

Last year, it was announced that an Iranian House of Innovation and Technology (IHIT) was to be established in Armenia with the aim of developing the export of Iranian knowledge-based products.

Over the few past years, with the support of the Vice Presidency for Science and Technology, the Iranian house of innovation has been set up in several countries to develop the global market for knowledge-based products.

These centers have already been set up in countries such as Russia, Turkey, China, Syria, and Kenya, and Iraq will soon join them.

By supporting innovative ideas, and holding technological and innovative events, the centers will be a platform for the development and promotion of Iranian knowledge-based companies, startups, and creative industries.

Iran, Armenia strengthen bilateral relations

Vorskanian Yeghisabet
MEHR News Agency
Oct 24 2023

TEHRAN, Oct. 24 (MNA) – Iran Minister of Roads and Urban Development, Mehrdad Bazrpash met and held talks with high-ranking Armenian officials in order to promote bilateral transport and trade cooperation.

Iran Minister of Roads and Urban Development, Mehrdad Bazrpash, at the head of a delegation to Yerevan, visited Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures, Gnel Sanosyan, and Minister of Economy, Vahan Kerobyan, in order to promote bilateral transport and trade cooperation. 

Mehrdad Bazrpash was welcomed at the Zvartnots International Airport by the Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of the Republic of Armenia and the executive director of the "Road Department" Fund. 

In his meeting with Pashinyan, Bazrpash said Iran has always supported the territorial integrity of Armenia and tries for peace and stability in the Caucasus. Pointing to the policy of Iran for developing relations with its neighboring countries, he said the two countries can target $ 3 billion trade (from the current $700 million) and the removal of trade and transit tariffs facilitate this goal. 

Bazrpash also pointed to the crimes of the Zionist regime in Palestine and said, "The brutality of the Zionist child-killer regime is not a new thing…countries should not be indifferent to the oppression of the people who are being evicted and bombarded". 

During this visit, Iran and Armenia signed two contracts for reconstruction of the 32 km Agarak-Kajaran Road in the Syunik Province which is part of the Tranche 4 of Armenia's North-South Road Corridor. These $210- million contracts are for the reconstruction of the 21 km road section from Agarak to Vardanidzor and the construction of the 11 km road from Vardanidzor to the tunnel exit. 

Armenia's North-South Road Corridor reduces the distance from Iran's border to Georgia's border. As part of the Persian Gulf-Black Sea Corridor, it will significantly facilitate access to the Black Sea for Iran and Armenia. The project will provide access to the Black Sea and European countries through the territory of Armenia (Meghri-Kapan-Goris-Yerevan-Ashtarak-Gyumri-Bavra) and Georgia. 

The implementation of the North-South Road Corridor is important for Armenia in terms of the modernization and development of Armenia's road network. The 32-kilometer Kajaran-Agarak section is financed by the Eurasian Fund for Stabilization and Development as well as the state budget of the Republic of Armenia. 

Iran is seeking to diversify its transit routes with the construction of new international routes in order to increase transit advantages and ease the access to the countries along the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and Europe. Moreover, it aims to export technical and engineering services by Iranian companies.

Bazrpash also met with the Minister of Economy of Armenia, Vahan Kerobyan. In their meeting, Bazrpash called for a trade increase up to three times and welcomed the proposal for establishing a fund for supporting joint projects. Kerobyan also emphasized on the importance of the India-Iran-Armenia Corridor and said, "The concluded contract for the completion of the North-South Road Corridor in Armenia with two Iranian companies has been the largest contract with Iran". He also said removing tariffs will augment mutual trade to the benefit of both sides. 

The two sides also negotiated over issuing licenses for Iranian airlines, removal of road tariffs, promotion of cooperation within the framework of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and the Persian Gulf-Black Sea Corridor, expanding rail transport and using Iran's logistics and port capacities.

In October 2022, transport ministers of Iran and Armenia agreed on linking through a new transit corridor along the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) that stretches from Tatev Road in Armenia to Nordouz-Varzeqan in East Azerbaijan and then to the Persian Gulf. Thereby, the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) was to be developed in the Armenian territory through Norduz Border to Varzeghan and Tabriz which would subsequently increase capacity for freight transit along the INSTC.

Similarly, in October 2021, an Iranian technical delegation went to Armenia to consider participation in completing the southern part of a road corridor, the Tatev Road, as an alternative route to Goris-Kapan Road.

MNA

https://en.mehrnews.com/news/207509/Iran-Armenia-strengthen-bilateral-relations

Russia’s Duma postpones review of bill on recognizing Armenian driving licenses

Greg Madatian
Armenia – Oct 24 2023

TASS reports this citing the press service of the lower house of the Russian parliament.

 

Vyacheslav Volodin, the speaker of the Russian State Duma, said that the bill proposes additional preferences to Armenian citizens, but the Armenian leadership failed to take any steps to consolidate the status of the Russian language.

 

“We made such decisions with regard to Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, as the Russian language is constitutionally enshrined in their country. As for Armenia, we see: Russian language has no status, the latest decisions absolutely do not contribute to the development of relations in this area,” Volodin said.

 

The document was initiated by the Russian government and adopted by the State Duma in the first reading in June 2022.

 

Mediamax reminds that back in June 2017, Vyacheslav Volodin proposed to enshrine the Russian language as an official one in the Armenian legislation so that the Armenian national driving licenses would be recognized in Russia.

 

He said then that after the Russian State Duma adopted a law giving the citizens of Kyrgyzstan, where Russian is an official language, the right to work as drivers in Russia with national licenses, “Armenian citizens were actually left out.”

 

“I can only say this: enshrine Russian language as an official, and the law will automatically include the Republic of Armenia as well,” Volodin said.


EU calls on Azerbaijan to ensure human rights and security of Karabakh Armenians

Ekmekjian Janet
Oct 24 2023
 

The European Union has called for the assurance of human rights, fundamental freedoms and the security of the Karabakh Armenians, in a statement to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on 18 October. 

Noting that nearly the entire population of Nagorno-Karabakh, over 100,600 persons, had found refuge in Armenia, the EU called on Azerbaijan “to ensure the human rights, fundamental freedoms and security of the Karabakh Armenians, including their right to live in their homes in dignity, without intimidation or discrimination, as well as to create the conditions for the voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return of refugees and displaced persons to Nagorno-Karabakh with due respect for their history, culture and human rights.”

The statement took note of President Heydar Aliyev’s public remarks about willingness to live in peace with Karabakh Armenians and preserve their rights, adding: “Azerbaijan has a clear primary responsibility for the fate of the population. Tangible, concrete and transparent guarantees must be provided. As an important confidence-building measure, we expect a comprehensive amnesty for all Karabakh Armenians, including their representatives, and restraint by all sides from harsh rhetoric.”

The EU reiterated its support to the sovereignty, inviolability of borders and territorial integrity of both Azerbaijan and Armenia, and called on Azerbaijan to reaffirm its unequivocal commitment to the territorial integrity of Armenia, in line with the 1991 Almaty Declaration.

Find out more

Press release

https://euneighbourseast.eu/news/latest-news/eu-calls-on-azerbaijan-to-ensure-human-rights-and-security-of-karabakh-armenians/

Israel war: Biden funds Hamas but turns his back on Nagorno-Karabakh Christians

Karapet Navasardian
Oct 24 2023
OPINION
by Michael Rubin

President Joe Biden announced last week that the United States would provide “$100 million of new US funding for humanitarian assistance in both Gaza and the West Bank.” As my colleague Danielle Pletka notes, the administration will channel money for Gaza from the U.S. Agency for International Development's emergency funds that will not be subject to congressional scrutiny. USAID, meanwhile, will not answer questions about how it will spend that money in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.

What is certain is that Hamas retains authoritarian control over the Gaza Strip, and it is not possible to distribute aid without going through at least some Hamas structures. Speaking to CNN, principal deputy national security adviser Jon Finer twisted himself into knots explaining how the administration had come to an “understanding” with Hamas about how the money would be spent without actually saying what that understanding was. That Finer’s comments came so quickly after the United Nations Relief and Works Agency reported Hamas stole medicine and fuel before deleting its tweets only adds to the White House's naivete.

In effect, it is the North Korea aid debacle all over again. At the time, President Bill Clinton agreed to provide both food and heavy fuel oil to North Korea as part of an incentive package for a diplomatic deal. North Korea cheated, sending both oil and food to its army as ordinary citizens froze and starved. When the U.S. Government Accountability Office confirmed the North Korean cheating and diversion, the State Department blamed America for demanding too inflexible a regimen of control.

Making the same mistake twice in the face of terrorists and rogues is bad enough, but it gets worse. While Biden bails out Hamas, a terrorist group holding American hostages and with American blood on its hands, it repeatedly refused to provide any substantive aid to Nagorno-Karabakh, which is home to one of the world’s oldest indigenous Christian populations.

In December 2022, then-Assistant Secretary of State Karen Donfried testified that since the second Nagorno-Karabakh War began in September 2020, the United States had provided “$21 million in humanitarian assistance, directly and indirectly.” Most of that assistance was indirect, channeled through the International Committee of the Red Cross. In theory, this was meant to provide humanitarian support for Nagorno-Karabakh’s besieged Christians, but Azerbaijan refused to allow ICRC aid in. That did not stop Azerbaijan from collecting its portion, as Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken refused to enforce the Humanitarian Aid Corridors Act that prohibits countries receiving American assistance from interfering with its distribution in other countries, regions, or territories. In practice, this meant that Nagorno-Karabakh received only a portion of the $2.5 million the U.S. provided in demining assistance for the South Caucasus.

The juxtaposition is damning. Hamas ran one of the world’s worst dictatorships. It transformed Gaza into a terrorist statelet. Artsakh, the self-governing entity formed by indigenous Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh, was democratic and invested what money it had into development projects, roads, and schools. Hamas represses all religious _expression_ that does not conform to its radical Sunni ideology, while Artsakh embraced religious freedom.

In effect, Biden shows a double standard: He rewards terrorists and turns his back on its victims. As a result, one of the world’s oldest indigenous communities was destroyed. Rather than get meaningful assistance, all they got was a letter promising his “strong support” amid Armenian “mourning” and a brief photo-op by Samantha Power, the USAID administrator who now will channel tens of millions of dollars to Hamas.

Christians, proponents of democracy, and victims of terrorism should be outraged.

Michael Rubin (@mrubin1971) is a contributor to the Washington Examiner's Beltway Confidential blog. He is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/israel-war-biden-funds-hamas-but-turns-his-back-on-nagorno-karabakh-christians

Iranian companies to build $215m stretch of Armenian highway

Manouk Vasilian
Oct 24 2023
Joe Quirke
Iranian companies are to build a 32km stretch of Armenia’s North–South highway.

According to Russian news agency Interfax, the project is located in the south of Armenia and will run between the town of Kajaran and the village of Agarak in Syunik Province. It will include 920m of tunnels, five interchanges, six overpasses and 17 bridges. Construction is due to be completed by 2026.

The project’s $215m cost will be financed through loans provided by the Eurasian Development Bank and by the Armenian government.

The deal was signed at a meeting between Nikol Pashinyan, Armenia’s prime minister, and Mehrdad Bazrpash, Iran’s minister of roads and urban development.

A press release from Pashinyan’s office said Iranian companies may become involved in other Armenian infrastructure projects, and Armenian companies may participate in large-scale Iranian housing schemes.

https://www.globalconstructionreview.com/iranian-companies-to-build-215m-stretch-of-armenian-highway/

Armenia, Azerbaijan join Iran-hosted talks aimed at reconciliation

Toneyan Mark
ARAB NEWS
Oct 24 2023


  • Talks are seen as Moscow’s attempt to reduce growing Western influence in the Caucasus

TEHRAN: Armenia and Azerbaijan joined talks Monday in Tehran seeking to ease tensions between the arch foes, which soared with Baku’s lightning offensive to retake the long-disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.
However, the same day as the meeting, Azerbaijan announced the start of joint military drills with its ally Turkiye near the border with Armenia just weeks after Baku seized Karabakh from pro-Yerevan separatists.
At the meeting in the Iranian capital — which also included foreign ministers from Turkiye, Russia and Iran — the envoys noted a push for peace in the Caucasus.
“This meeting… can be the cornerstone of the path toward establishing peace and ending challenges in the South Caucasus with the participation of regional players and neighbors,” said Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.
The talks are seen as Moscow’s attempt to reduce growing Western influence in the Caucasus — a region it has long considered as its backyard.
According to Moscow’s original plan, the “3+3 format” was meant to also include Georgia. But Tbilisi, which aspires to join the EU and NATO, has rejected the proposal.
Since Moscow brokered a 2020 cease-fire between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the European Union and United States have stepped up their own efforts to mediate a peace agreement between the two sides.
Russia, the traditional power-broker in the region, has seen its role diminished since it invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

Ahead of the talks, Azerbaijan’s defense ministry said Monday it had begun joint drills with its ally Turkiye near the border with Armenia — weeks after Baku seized the long-disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region from pro-Yerevan separatists.
Azerbaijan last month took control of the enclave in a 24-hour military operation that ended decades of Armenian separatist rule.
The ministry said “up to 3,000” troops would take part in the tactical drills held in the capital Baku, the Nakhichevan exclave between Iran and Armenia, as well as territories retaken from Armenian separatists.
The exercises — dubbed “Mustafa Kemal Ataturk 2023” — involve dozens of artillery weapons and aviation.
Baku said they were aimed at “ensuring combat interoperability” between the allies.
Tensions are running high between Armenia and Azerbaijan, a month after Baku’s lightning offensive.
Yerevan fears that energy-rich Baku may seek to press its advantage — with the help of Ankara — to forcibly connect its Nakhichevan exclave with Azerbaijan proper by capturing lands in southern Armenia, along the Iranian border.
Iran opposes the idea of a so-called Zangezur corridor, as it would create a direct land link between Azerbaijan and Tehran’s historic rival Turkiye.
Armenia said it is ready to reopen transport communications between mainland Azerbaijan and Nakhichevan via its territory under condition that its sovereignty over the area is not questioned.
Baku has denied having any territorial claims over Armenia.
Karabakh, internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan and for decades home to a majority Armenian population, was at the center of two wars between Yerevan and Baku — in 2020 and in the early 1990s following the collapse of the Soviet Union.
After a months-long blockade of the region, Azerbaijan launched a lightning offensive against Armenian separatist forces on September 19, 2023.
After less than a day of fighting, separatist authorities agreed to lay down arms and reintegrate with Azerbaijan.
Almost all of Nagorno-Karabakh’s ethnic Armenian population — some 100,000 people — fled for Armenia after the offensive, sparking a refugee crisis.


Iran’s president says foreign intervention is harmful to the Azeri-Armenian conflict

Markos Nalchajian
Oct 23 2023

Recommendation to “refrain from intervention for peace and stability in the Caucasus region”
Raisi meets separately with foreign ministers of both countries in Tehran to mediate

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said on the 23rd (local time) that for peace and stability in the Caucasus region, a disputed area between Armenia and Azerbaijan, foreign intervention could be “very harmful” and that regional issues should be resolved through dialogue and cooperation between the parties. He emphasized that

According to Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency, the President’s Office said that President Raisi made these remarks during separate meetings with the foreign ministers of the two countries who visited Tehran.

He told Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, “Iran has a great interest in the security of the countries in the Caucasus region and recognizes its importance,” and said that Iran would take action in resolving the problems between the two countries.

In response, the Armenian Foreign Minister thanked Iran for making strong statements and stepping forward for the development of the Caucasus region, saying that Iran’s help would be needed as there would be a need to hold talks and general meetings among regional countries “at this critically important time.” said.

During his meeting with Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, Iranian President Raisi said that Iran has always attached importance to dialogue between neighboring countries in the region to resolve regional problems, adding that there is a need to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries concerned. He emphasized that there is.

Accordingly, the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister actively agreed with Iran’s position to prevent foreign intervention in regional issues. He said he was grateful for Azerbaijan’s efforts to preserve its territory.

On the evening of the 23rd, the foreign ministers of the two countries held a meeting with their Iranian, Russian and Russian counterparts and discussed the recent conflict in the southern Caucasus.

At this event, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian announced that he would actively support future peace talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Iran’s official IRNA news agency reported.

The Iranian minister warned that there is a risk that this region could become a site of competition between world powers, and repeatedly warned that it would be best to resolve regional disputes among the countries in the region.

Armenia and Arbaijan in the Caucasus Mountains region once again engaged in armed conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region on September 27.

The two countries, which have been fighting over this mountainous area for nearly 40 years since 1988, each speak differently about the situation on this day. Armenia claimed that Azerbaijan attacked Stepanakert, the capital of the disputed region, at 8 a.m. with helicopters and drones and fired tank shells, killing several civilians.

Azerbaijan, on the other hand, countered by saying that the Armenian military shelled the entire border area, killing civilians.

Although the ceasefire talks that the two countries agreed to in 1994 are maintained, intermittent clashes and local wars have continued since then. After a border clash on September 27, 2020, a cease-fire meeting was held again on November 9 of that year through Russian mediation.

As the fighting expanded again on September 19th of this year, Russia stepped forward the next day and achieved cease-fire talks.

Source: Donga

Iran, Armenia To Ink Contract For Constructing Part Of International North-South Transport Corridor

Emil Lazarian
Oct 24 2023
   0 Comments

By Tasnim News Agency

The contract for constructing a part of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) in southern Armenia will be signed today during a visit by Iran’s Minister of Roads and Urban Development Mehrdad Bazrpash to Yerevan. 

Iran’s roads minister left Tehran for the Armenian capital on Monday at the official invitation of Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of the Republic of Armenia Gnel Sanosyan.  

In this daylong visit, Bazrpash will participate in the signing ceremony of the contract for constructing Agarak-Karajan Road as a part of the INSTC and the Persian Gulf- Black Sea Transport Corridor.

Accompanied by Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for the Economic Diplomacy Affairs Mehdi Safari, Iran’s roads minister will hold high-profile talks with Armenian transport officials aimed at developing bilateral relations in the fields of trade, economy, and transportation.

In addition, the two sides will exchange views on a host of issues including issuance of licenses for Iranian airline companies, removal of road tariffs, promotion of cooperation within the framework of INSTC and Persian Gulf – Black Sea Corridor, development of rail transportation and use of logistics and port capacities of Iran.  

Bazrpash will also hold talks with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

https://www.eurasiareview.com/24102023-iran-armenia-to-ink-contract-for-constructing-part-of-international-north-south-transport-corridor/