Economic Corridors In The South Caucuses And China's 'Belt And Road'.An Armenian Perspective

In the past decade,Middle Eurasia has been a domain of intensifying commercial activity.Countries are working together and compete for access to trade corridors for new openings.While Chinese entrance provided an important impetus,other actors such as Russia,India,Turkey,Iran as well as countries in Central Asia and in the South Caucasus have developed their priorities in parallel.The Trans-Caspian corridor is an area of such competitive activity.Both physical and software infrastructure problems remain along the Trans-Caspian corridor.Azerbaijan and Georgia are included in Trans-Caspian corridor because of their location;Armenia is not included in the Trans-Caspian corridor.The increased energy along the Middle Corridor,most significantly instigated by Chinese presence in Georgia and Azerbaijan,will have spillover effects on Armenia.Membership in EAEU(Eurasian Economic Union),by making Armenia part of a larger market,could make Armenia attractive for Chinese investments.All the three actors in the South Caucasus,Armenia,Azerbaijan and Georgia,view Chinese investments as a way to counter balance Russia influence.The Chinese presence offers a geostrategic advantage introducing China as a third player into the region breaking the bind of the West-Russia stranglehold.The Chinese One Belt One Road(OBOR)initiative,through a series of investments and providing transportation links,has the possibility of transforming the economies in this region.