Georgian PM stresses importance of Chinese involvement, freight for Anaklia port project’s “efficient operation”

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Thursday emphasised the significance of involving a Chinese company in the implementation of the Anaklia port project in the country’s north-west, adding freight from the country would play a “crucial role” in the “efficient operation” of the port.

Kobakhidze dismissed “speculations” about China Communications Construction Company Limited - the company selected as the Government’s private partner for the port project - and emphasised its capability and experience.

• Economy Minister says Chinese consortium to be announced as private partner for Anaklia port project

We have heard a lot of speculation about the Chinese company. This is one of the largest Chinese state-owned company, which has great experience, including in implementing projects of this type. They submitted a very good application regarding the development of this project”, he said.

• Georgian Economy Ministry rejects “misinformation” on Anaklia port project’s private partner Chinese consortium being sanctioned

The Prime Minister also noted Mamuka Khazaradze - the leader of the Lelo for Georgia political party who had been involved in the development of the project as the founder of Anaklia Development Consortium - had “failed to attract investors” for the project.

Khazaradze failed to attract investors from any area, including a Chinese company, to implement this project. Therefore, it is the responsibility of Khazaradze, who needed to implement the Anaklia project but could not attract any investors for years”, he said.

The Prime Minister said other countries “could have created an interest among specific companies in this profitable project”, but added the outcome had not taken place.

If there was interest from specific states, it would not have been difficult to involve investors in the project [...] If there was interest in port development in Georgia, Khazaradze's Consortium should not have had difficulty in attracting an investor, and even now some relevant company should be involved in this tender, although unfortunately everything has happened differently”, Kobakhidze said.

Georgian Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili on Wednesday announced the Chinese consortium would be selected as the Government's private partner for the project.

TV reports later claimed the company was under international sanctions, before the Ministry of Economy rejected the claims.