Economy Minister highlights increased competitiveness, int’l shipments of Middle Corridor

Georgian Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili on Wednesday told the country’s Parliament competitiveness of the Middle Corridor, a logistics route connecting Central Asia and China to Europe via the South Caucasus, and the number of international shipments through the direction, had “significantly increased”.

In his report to the lawmaking body, Davitashvili noted the average growth of cargo transported by international shipments by transport branches had equalled 11 percent over the last three years.

It is important that the transit role of Georgia in energy has been strengthened, and over the last three years, the transit of natural gas has increased by an average of 22 percent, while the transit of gas through the South Caucasus pipeline has increased by an average of 25 percent - in total it has increased by 92 percent compared to 2020”, he said.

The Minister also emphasised a “record-high volume” of electricity generation, transit and export, and noted the average annual growth of electricity generation over the last three years equalled nine percent - a 29 percent increase compared to 2020.

He added the share of imports in consumption of electricity had “significantly” decreased, and exports exceeded imports by almost a magnitude of two in 2023.

Davitashvili noted his office would continue its work on integrating domestic infrastructure into international transport systems and deepening regional cooperation to increase the competitiveness of the Corridor.

He added the Ministry and partner countries planned to digitise the parts of the Corridor passing via Georgia through the formation of a digital logistics platform, which he said would increase the efficiency of freight transportation in the country and ensure its sustainability.