The Government of Georgia has published a new document"Georgia's Economic Development Long-term Vision – “Economy 2030", which includes  the government’s goals and plans. The port infrastructure development is one of the priority which envisages  the construction of the deep-water port of Anaklia and the expansion of the Poti port.

“In a bid  to improve the competitiveness of Georgia’s transport and logistics sector, the country should develop  the  transport infrastructure by  expanding the national high-speed highway, new railway routes, international airports and seaports, including the projects to expand the infrastructure of the Poti port and to build the deep-sea port of Anaklia,” the document reads.

A few days ago, Minister of Economy Levan Davitashvili noted that the Abu Dhabi Ports Corporation of the United Arab Emirates shows its interest in the development of the deep-water port of Anaklia while Deputy Minister Genady Arveladze stated about  the Japanese investors wishing to pour money into the project.

According to the state budget for 2023, GEL 2.850 million has been allocated for preliminary work to prepare the construction of the port that is GEL  1.3 million more than this year.

Business does not share the government’s  optimism about the project and is more cautious when evaluating its prospects.

Keti Bochorishvili, the former CEO of the Anaklia City company, believes that the opportunity to build a port has already been missed, and the interest from  the Japanese investors is nothing new as  they  showed their  interest in the project at an early stage. 

At the same time, in her opinion,  other steps taken by the government  to intensify the process are insufficient.

“Everyone saw the need for such a port given that the transit route running through Georgia is very important for the world. The countries of Central Asia and Europe want to have an alternative route to Russia in the region. Due to the Russian-Ukrainian war, many northern transit routes moved south, along the Middle Corridor, including through Georgia. For this reason just now the port of Anaklia would be a turning point for the country's economy,” she points out.

Keti Bochorishvili  adds that the current environment is unfavorable in the country to carry out the project and  cites litigation between the former investor and the state as well  as the damaged reputation of the project that  is also a problem.