Anaklia Deepwater Port is one of the key projects for the development of Georgia’s maritime capabilities, which creates opportunities for broad regional and international participation - Mariam Kvrivishvili

The port sector’s performance is reaching its peak, however, due to the optimization of port processes and improvement of management models, ports are effectively coping with increased cargo flows, – said the Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, Mariam Kvrivishvili, in her speech at the opening of the Georgian International Maritime Forum in Batumi.

In her speech, the Minister stated that the state is actively cooperating with the private sector in order to fully utilize the potential of the port sector.

“One of the key projects for the development of Georgia’s maritime capabilities is the Anaklia Deepwater Port. We are developing Anaklia using the so-called landlord model – which balances the interests of the state and the private sector and creates the opportunity for broad regional and international participation,” said Mariam Kvrivishvili.

According to the minister, the port will start operating in 2029, with an initial annual throughput capacity of at least 600 thousand TEU and approximately 10 million tons of dry cargo. The state will invest 700 million USD in the project, and with private sector investments this figure will amount to 1.1 billion USD.

“Infrastructure is only one component. Agreed schedules, simplified procedures and compatible digital systems are no less important for the competitiveness of the Middle Corridor. We are ready to work with partner countries, international organizations and the private sector to make the Middle Corridor a single, continuous, efficient and reliable route. One of the main resources of our maritime sector is human capital. Today we have more than 21,000 certified Georgian seafarers, while in 2012 their number was about 8,000. Their contribution to the Georgian economy is about 1 billion GEL,” said Mariam Kvrivishvili.

According to her, one of the reasons for this growth is the more than 50 million GEL investment made by the government in maritime education since 2012.

“Today, Georgian sailors are recognized by 75 of the world's leading maritime flags, including the European Union,” noted the Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development.