Armenian businesses must be prepared to compete with Turkey when borders open
YEREVAN /ARKA/ — Armenian businesses must prepare in advance for new competitive conditions in the event of the opening of regional communications and the Armenian-Turkish border. This was stated by Arsen Ghazaryan, Chairman of the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Armenia (UIEA), during an expanded meeting of the organization’s Board.
Regarding the future of entrepreneurship in the context of geopolitical changes, the opening of regional communications routes, the establishment of Armenian-Turkish relations, and new contacts with neighboring countries, Ghazaryan urged businesses to analyze and prepare in advance for the positive and negative challenges of the competitive environment.
According to the UIEA Chairman, the expected opening of borders requires changes to existing market marketing and the entire import policy.
It was noted that Turkey is a hub for large transnational corporations and is more technologically advanced than it was 10-20 years ago, particularly in the trade sector. In particular, he noted, importers of electrical equipment and machinery will inevitably work with this market, for which they must be prepared.
“The educational level of management in the neighboring country is incomparably higher. Although we have repeatedly documented the success of Armenian entrepreneurship, there is still a risk of absorption and displacement,” Kazaryan emphasized.
On May 13 of this year, Ankara announced the completion of preparations for the launch of direct trade between Turkey and Armenia. Yerevan noted that direct trade between Armenia and Turkey, in the customs sense, has become possible—without the need for new formalities.
On the Armenian-Turkish Dialogue
Armenia and Turkey have not had diplomatic relations since 1991, and the border between the two countries has been closed since 1993 at Ankara’s initiative. Key issues included recognition of the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
In December 2021, Deputy Speaker of the Armenian National Assembly Ruben Rubinyan and former Turkish Ambassador to the United States Serdar Kılıç were appointed special representatives for the normalization of relations.
Direct cargo air travel between the countries became possible on January 1, 2023.
On September 24, 2024, in New York, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan confirmed their readiness to continue normalization without preconditions.
On April 12, 2025, the foreign ministers of the two countries discussed the bilateral agenda on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomatic Forum. On September 12, 2025, Rubinyan and Kılıç agreed to expedite the implementation of agreements on opening the land border to third-country nationals and persons with diplomatic passports, as well as on the railway project, the Gyumri-Kars power line, and increasing the number of flights.
On April 28, 2026, a joint working group of the two countries met in Kars to restore and launch the Gyumri-Kars railway line. On May 4, 2026, Pashinyan announced the signing of an Armenian-Turkish protocol on the joint reconstruction of the historic Ani Bridge.
