Georgian PM: Anaklia deep sea port project Govt’s “most important objective”

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Monday told Imedi TV channel construction of the Anaklia deep sea port project, earmarked to be built in north-western Georgia’s Black Sea town to ensure increased logistical capability between Asia and Europe, represented the Government's “most important objective”.

Kobakhidze’s comments followed the International Court of Arbitration’s ruling in favour of the state on a 2020 case filed by Badri Japaridze and Mamuka Khazaradze, leaders of the opposition Lelo party and founders of TBC Bank, against the Government’s cancellation that year of its contract with a consortium for building the project.

• Georgian PM: Anaklia port project will make “significant contribution” to economic growth

The PM said the state had created “all conditions” for the Anaklia Development Consortium that had won the state tender for the port in 2016, with TBC Holding as its principal partner, before the company failed to fulfil the major infrastructural initiative within deadlines.

[W]e are [now] looking ahead, and one of our main tasks is the construction of Anaklia port. An agreement with a Chinese company has already been negotiated for this. The appropriate company has already been selected, and construction works will begin very soon”, he added.

Kobakhidze said the Government would “do everything” to ensure the project being “actually implemented” and “protect the country’s interests as much as possible” during the construction process, noting the state reserved 51 percent share in the project.