Georgian PM reveals state participation in Anaklia deep-sea port at World Economic Forum
The Prime Minister in December announced the Government was planning to “urgently” launch an international competition for selecting investors to complete the Anaklia deep-sea port on western Georgia’s Black Sea coast, adding the state would implement this project together with “foreign or other companies”. Photo via Government Administration
Tweet 
Share
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Thursday said the Anaklia deep-sea port on western Georgia’s Black Sea coast would be 51 percent owned by the state after its completion and an international competition to select investors would be announced for the remaining 49 percent, in his address at a panel discussion of the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Garibashvili noted the project should be implemented to increase the country’s capabilities, stressing there have been “communications” with “many potential investors” in this direction, the Government Administration said.
The potential of the ports of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan has been increasing, the Head of the Government said, pointing out that Georgia’s Black Sea Poti Seaport already had the potential to transport 550,000 tonnes and Batumi Seaport - 20,000 tonnes, which was not “enough” and had to be increased.
The Prime Minister in December announced the Government was planning to “urgently” launch an international competition for selecting investors to complete the Anaklia deep-sea port on western Georgia’s Black Sea coast, adding the state would implement this project together with “foreign or other companies”.
The Anaklia Development Consortium was responsible for implementing the original project, however, the Government cancelled the agreement with the company on January 9, 2020, after the latter proved unable to obtain the required $2.5 billion in funds to construct the port. The Government had granted the Consortium postponements of the funding deadline six times before the cancellation.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Tuesday said while Central Asian countries agreed on the need to diversify and develop new routes, a “special attention” was paid to the transport corridor involving Georgia, in his highlighting of the importance of port, railway and other infrastructure for realising the country’s role of a regional hub.
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”.
The Georgian government will begin procedures to cancel the investment agreement signed with the Anaklia Development Consortium on October 3, 2016 to build the Anaklia Deep Sea Port. The consortium has been unable to obtain the needed $400 million in loans from international financial institutions and $120 million from potential investors by the official expiration of the term limits at the end of 2019.
Georgia is taking a considerable step forward by enhancing its historic role on the Silk Road route, developing its economy and taking its logistic opportunities to the next level by starting construction of the Anaklia Deep Sea Port.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Thursday said the security and prosperity of Georgia contributed to global stability and noted he was honoured to participate in the World Economic Forum’s panel discussion on Eurasia’s Middle Corridor.
Ebru Özdemir, the Chairwoman of the Turkish conglomerate Limak Holding, highlighted the importance of the Middle Corridor logistics route connecting Europe with China and involving Azerbaijani, Georgian and Turkish companies, in comments at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Thursday.
Georgian Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili summarised meetings held by the Georgian Government delegation at the World Economic Forum in Davos this week by saying the discussions had been "exceptionally fruitful and interesting" and would “definitely bring concrete results”.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili, along with his deputies, on Saturday, reviewed the plans and main priorities of 2023, as well as the dynamics of the implementation of the 2030 development strategy, at the working meeting, the Government Administration said.
Georgian Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili on Friday said that Swiss-Luxembourger and Chinese-Singaporean companies had moved to the second stage of selection process of a private partner for the Anaklia deep sea port project earmarked for western Georgia’s Black Sea town.
Georgian Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili on Friday highlighted the “great” potential of Georgia’s transport infrastructure for growth and development while speaking at a plenary session of the Parliament.
Revaz Lominadze, the Georgian Ambassador to Switzerland, on Tuesday said Irakli Garibashvili, the Prime Minister of the country, would participate in various panel discussions and have “important bilateral meetings” at the World Economic Forum being held in Davos.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Wednesday discussed prospects of enhanced cooperation during his meeting with Levent Çakıroğlu, the CEO of the Turkish company Koç Holding, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.