The “Friendship Bridge” on the Armenian-Georgian border is put into operation which allows the transit of people and goods across the border. The bridge at the Sadakhlo-Bagratashen checkpoint is the main crossing between Georgia and Armenia. The upgrade of the existing infrastructure is essential to support regional trade and cooperation between the two countries.

The project envisages two bridges located at a distance of 1 meter from each other, each bridge will have two lanes. The capacity of the new bridge is 4 times higher. Thanks to this, vehicles will not have to park on the bridge, the customs checkpoint process will take place faster, and will be more convenient and modern. Large-scale works have already been carried out and it remains to install barriers, build sidewalks, pave the road and carry out markings.

The “Friendship Bridge” is a joint Armenian-Georgian program with a total cost of more than $65 000 000. It is supported by the Armenian and Georgian governments, the European Investment Bank, the EU, the UN Development Programme, and the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The EBRD is the leading institutional investor in Armenia. The Bank has invested about $2 000 000 000 in more than 200 projects in the country’s financial, infrastructure, industrial, mining, corporate, and energy sectors, with an 82% share of its investment portfolio being in the private sector. EBRD’s current portfolio of projects costs about $450mln.

Moreover, in Armenia’s southern customs posts, reforms are underway that will reduce the waiting time from 2-3 days to 2-3 hours. Today at the customs post there are 5 services: the NSB, food security, police, customs, and transport services. Following the reforms, a one-stop-shop will be available at the customs points with only 2 available bodies The National Security Council and the Customs Service, which will share the functions of other bodies. The program aims to significantly reduce waiting times by submitting all documents through one window.