Finance Minister highlights "significantly increased” traffic across Georgian customs checkpoints
Traffic flow at customs checkpoints across Georgia has increased "significantly", Georgian Finance Minister Lasha Khutsishvili said. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
Tweet 
Share
Traffic flow at customs checkpoints across Georgia has increased "significantly", Georgian Finance Minister Lasha Khutsishvili said at an event dedicated to International Customs Day on Thursday.
The Ministry cited Khutsishvili on comments about “significant” effects made on the international logistics chain by the Covid-19 pandemic and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, and resulting prospects of alternate connections.
It is expected that the cargo volume in the Middle Corridor will increase several times. Our customs department is continuously providing customs clearance for increased volume", the Minister said in reference to the logistics and supply route between Europe, South Caucasus and Central Asia that has grown in significance since the outbreak of the conflict and search for alternative connections between the regions.
Khutsishvili said the "strategic task" of the Government was to develop and use the existing infrastructure "more effectively".
The official also noted the “large-scale” infrastructural works currently underway in Georgia, saying the “principal phase” of the years-long works on road connections would be completed by 2024.
At the same time, railway rehabilitation, development of port and airspace capabilities in infrastructure are taking place”, he added.
Khutsishvili also revealed “completely new infrastructure” would be launched this year for the Lagodekhi customs checkpoint on the Georgia-Azerbaijan border.
Georgian Finance Minister Lasha Khutsishvili on Thursday said Georgian customs authorities had ensured “strict control” on the movement of goods in the list of international sanctions on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine “immediately” following their approval.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Tuesday highlighted the ₾3.3 billion ($1.22bln) budget for next year’s projects under the country’s Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure, in his summary of the Government’s work throughout the past year.
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.
Georgian Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili on Saturday said cargo turnover, by the country's transport sectors, including road and railway, as well as civil aviation, had increased by 16.6 percent in the first quarter of 2022 and had amounted to 12.8 million tons, this “clearly indicating” that the interest of international carriers towards the transport corridor of Georgia has been growing.
Approximation of Georgian customs authorities with European Union conventions, use of new computerised transit systems and artificial intelligence were highlighted by Georgia’s Finance Minister Lasha Khutsishvili in comments on upcoming projects for the country’s customs service on Thursday.
Georgian Railway on Thursday announced it was launching freight services offering car manufacturers to transport their products to Central Asian states.
Cargo turnover by Georgia's transport sectors, including road transport, railway freight and air cargo, increased by 2.4 percent in the first quarter of 2023 and amounted to 9.5 million tonnes, the Ministry of Economy announced on Thursday.
Georgian ports and terminals received 3,931 ships in the first quarter of 2023, the National Statistics Office of Georgia said on Friday.