The agreement was signed by representatives of Dubai-based investment fund Rasia FZE, Russian Railways (RZD) subsidiary South Caucasus Railway (SCR), and Armenian minister of transport and communications Mr Gagik Beglaryan. The ceremony was also attended by government officials, ambassadors, and fund managers from Armenia, China, Russia, UAE, and Iran.

The MoU covers the construction of both a 316km railway linking Gavar, 50km east of Yerevan near Lake Sevar, with the Iranian border near Meghri, and a 110km highway in the southern province of Syunik. The total cost of the two projects is expected to be around $US 3bn.

In 2012 Rasia FZE signed two concession agreements with the Armenian government to develop these projects on a PPP basis. The concessions set deadlines for completing feasibility studies, engineering design, project financing, and construction, and both have an operating term of 30 years with an option for a 20 year extension. Feasibility studies began at the end of December, and Rasia FZE has appointed China Communications Construction Company as the "lead member of the development consortium" for the project.

The line will be operated by SCR, which was awarded a 30-year operating concession for Armenia's 1520mm-gauge national network in February 2008. During the ceremony, Mr Victor Rebets, general director of SCR said RZD has invested more than Drams 90bn ($US 225m) in its Armenian operations since it won the concession.

At present the only rail connection between Armenia and Iran is the line which passes through the autonomous region of Nakhchivan, an exclave of Azerbaijan. However, because the border between the two countries is closed the line from Yerevan is operational only as far as Yeraskh.