International Scientific Journals
of Scientific Technical Union of Mechanical Engineering "Industry 4.0"

In the article, the “South-West” international transport corridor was studied, the economic expediency of the main and alternative transport routes (including those passing through the territory of the Republic of Armenia (RA) for cargo transportation in the direction of “Asia-Iran-Europe” was evaluated, the possibilities of RA participation in the “New Silk Road” international transport program were considered.

Russian-Armenian (Slavonic) University, Yerevan, Armenia.This research work is devoted to the trends for further development of the New Silk Road. In the framework of the study, the authors have analyzed the export and import of all potential participant countries of the New Silk Road, examined the Northern, Central and Southern corridors. They have also identified alternative directions for transportation of goods from China through the countries of Central Asia to Russia and Europe. At the same time, according to the calculations carried out to assess the volumes of transit cargo flows on the alternative routes offered by the central and southern international transport corridors, the authors have highlighted the strategic role of Iran in the distribution of cargo flows.

In view of the new realities created by signing the Association Agreement between Georgia and the European Union, Georgia for the first time was given the opportunity to be properly involved in the processes of global economic integration. This problem can be successfully resolved through safeguarding the Euro-Asian transport-communication space – “A New Silk Road”, and in the conditions of harmonizing the country’s geo-economic interests.

It should be noted that the first test train has passed already through the Georgian section of a new Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway line.
This section is what should become a component part of “A New Silk Road”. The construction of 180 kilometers of this railway line has been already completed, and now everything is being done for completing all works by the end of 2015. This railway line is considered as the most significant project in the South Caucasus region of the Euro-Asian transport corridor.