Agreement Signed on “Lapis Lazuli Corridor”

In mid-November Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia signed an agreement on the creation of the "The Lapis Lazuli Corridor," which will enable Afghanistan to get the shortest access to the Black and Mediterranean seas.

A preliminary agreement was signed at the fourth working meeting of the delegations of the participating countries in Azerbaijan.

According to a press release from the Afghan Foreign Ministry, the agreement concerns the simplification of customs and visa regimes for businessmen.

The Lapis Lazuli Corridor is an extension of the idea of the Great Silk Road, connecting South and Central Asia to Europe, and in virtue of the geographical position of Afghanistan, will be the main link between them. The name reflects the fact that in ancient times Afghan lapis lazuli and other semi-precious stones were exported along the route.

The corridor will pass through the commercial ports of Akin in Faryab province and Torghundi in Herat province, Turkmenbashi in Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan Baku, Tbilisi and Batumi in Georgia and Istanbul in Turkey.

President of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani IRA (Islamic Republic of Afghanistan) has repeatedly emphasized the importance of this project, which will allow Afghan goods to gain access to new markets.

Dimitri Dolaberidze