US ambassador highlights importance of Anaklia port for Georgia’s Black Sea orientation

The diplomat also stressed Anaklia would bring not only a “big contribution” to Georgia’s economy, but also create “good jobs” for citizens in the west of the country and beyond. Photo: US Embassy in Tbilisi

Agenda.ge, 28 Nov 2022 - 17:46, Tbilisi,Georgia

Kelly Degnan, the United States ambassador to Georgia, on Monday said the US was a “strong supporter” for construction of the Anaklia deep water port on Georgia’s Black Sea coast as the project could be a “very important contribution” to the country’s “orientation to the Black Sea”.

In her remarks over the matter, Degnan noted that had the project been completed last year - as originally planned before complications with investments led to a suspension of the initiative - it would have made a “huge contribution” as Georgia “develops its role in the middle corridor, bringing goods from Central Asia through to Europe”.

This is critical infrastructure for Georgia to develop, and that’s why the United States has been encouraging the development of an Anaklia port for quite some time. My understanding is there are a number of global qualified port operators that are interested in Anaklia, and that the government plans to move forward with a tender early next year”, Degnan said.

The diplomat also stressed Anaklia would bring not only a “big contribution” to Georgia’s economy, but also create “good jobs” for citizens in the west of the country and beyond. 

So, we remain big supporters of the development of Anaklia deep water port, done in a way that is in the best interests of the country of Georgia, and that protects Georgia’s critical infrastructure”, she concluded.