The opening of the Armenia–Turkey border to third-country nationals could have an immediate and tangible posi- tive impact on Armenia’s economy, par- ticularly by increasing tourist flows and stimulating the services sector, Deputy Minister of Economy Anushik Avetyan said, Armenpress reports. Speaking during a visit to the Mar- gara border checkpoint on the Arme- nian–Turkish border, Avetyan noted that the border opening would deliver fast practical benefits for economic activity. She emphasized that Armenia faces significant challenges as a land- locked country with two of its four bor- ders closed. “As you know, we are heavily de- pendent on the Lars checkpoint. The opening of the border with Turkey will assist economic operators in several ways,” Avetyan said. “Transport costs will be reduced, supply chains will become shorter, and access to markets will expand.” She stressed that closed borders over many years have increased logisti- cal costs, limited competition, and cre- ated serious difficulties for Armenian producers in securing a place in global markets. In this context, Avetyan high- lighted the importance of opening the border with Turkey for Armenia’s ex- port diversification agenda. According to the deputy minister, the border opening would help reduce dependence on a limited number of transport routes and destinations, while enabling access to new markets and diversification of exports. She added that expert studies indicate a positive impact on foreign trade, as well as on invest- ment inflows and the overall invest- ment environment. “According to certain expert as- sessments, an increase of up to 20 per- cent in investment flows is expected, not only in Armenia but across the re- gion,” Avetyan said. She noted that the government is currently conducting a detailed study to assess the economic impact of the border opening and may later expand the analysis to examine re- gional economic interconnections and cooperation. Avetyan expressed confidence that shorter and more affordable logistics routes would allow Armenian producers to enter new markets, reduce reliance on limited export directions, and ensure faster and more flexible deliveries. She also pointed out that, in the context of transport unblocking and Turkey’s cus- toms union with the European Union, Armenia’s export opportunities to the EU – particularly for industrial goods – could expand. The deputy minister underlined that open borders would benefit not only Armenia but the entire region. “The ac- tivation of transit flows and the shorten- ing of supply chains are advantageous for all involved parties. This will in- crease the region’s competitiveness and attractiveness within international trade routes,” she concluded.