Georgian, Chinese investors pledge $120m to build cement factory in Georgia

Construction of a $120 million USD Georgian-Chinese cement factory has begun in Georgia’s western Samegrelo region today.

A sod-turning ceremony was held today to mark the beginning of construction of the Black Sea Cement plant, and attended by Georgia’s Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili in Senaki township.

This is a great example of the partnership between Georgia and China,” Kvirikashvili said at the ceremony.

He said the large-scale project was important in terms of its contribution to the state budget and for local people and their employment.

Black Sea Cement was a joint venture by the Asian-African Business Management company, Hualing Group and a Georgian construction company.

The facility will span 20 hectares in Senaki. Once built and operational, the factory will produce 900,000 tonnes of clinker and 1.5 million tonnes of high quality cement annually.

Up to 500 workers will be employed in the factory, the majority of whom will be the local population.

Investors in the project said special noise reduction equipment would be installed to reduce noise emitted while making the concrete.

While in Samegrelo, Kvirikashvili attended a traditional horse race called Marula. Riders from all over Georgia participated in the event. 

Photo by PM's press office.

Kvirikashvili hoped the old tradition would soon be brought back to life and Senaki would become the centre of horse riding.

From Senaki PM Kvirikashvili travelled to Abasha town and visited the West Georgian Bakery, an enterprise funded by the state program Produce in Georgia.

Photo by PM's press office

The bakery was established in 2015 and it employed 44 local residents.

Kvirikashvili will stay in Samegrelo for the afternoon and visit several other businesses in the region.