TBILISI, June 27 – Georgia has launched the second phase of development at the new Poti port, a project officials say will strengthen the country’s role as a transport hub between Europe and Asia.
The expansion comes as cargo traffic through the Middle Corridor is rising. The route links China and Central Asia to Europe through the South Caucasus, bypassing Russia.
A ceremony in Poti was attended by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, Economy Minister Mariam Kvrivishvili, U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Alan Purcell, U.S. International Development Finance Corporation Managing Director Kenneth Angel, and Pace International President Ioseb Dolidze, Rezonansi reported.
Kobakhidze said demand for Georgia’s transport corridor is growing quickly and that the country needs modern infrastructure to meet it. He said the government plans to modernize the transport network, including port expansion, construction of the Anaklia deep-sea port, and upgrades to rail and road routes.
“This project brings together the state, Georgian business and American financial institutions around a common goal,” Kobakhidze said, thanking the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation for its role.
The project is being carried out by Georgian company Pace Group together with the U.S. development finance agency. The first phase has already attracted USD 93 million in investment and created 360 jobs. About 50 more jobs are expected at the current stage.
Kvrivishvili said cargo transported through the Middle Corridor increased by 21% in the first five months of this year, while the tonnage of ships entering Georgian ports rose by 19%.
She said an additional USD 40 million investment in Poti would significantly increase the port’s capacity. After the second phase is completed, the port’s throughput capacity is expected to reach 3 million tons. She said the expansion would also speed up cargo handling and improve Georgia’s competitiveness.
Purcell said the project underlined Washington’s readiness to invest in projects that strengthen Georgia’s position as a natural transit hub on the Middle Corridor. He also pointed to U.S.-Georgia cooperation in border protection, port infrastructure, defense capacity and the development of the coast guard.
Pace International President Ioseb Dolidze said the second phase includes construction of another berth, which will increase the new port’s cargo turnover by 1 million tons. He said the new terminal will handle mineral fertilizers produced in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Georgia, which he described as important for the region and for global food security.
Pace Group owns the new Poti seaport and includes maritime agency, brokerage, logistics, container and berth operating companies. The company employs more than 1,000 people.
Economist Nodar Kapanadze told Rezonansi that the project should also be viewed through the lens of geopolitical competition. He said the ongoing Anaklia deep-sea port project represents a Chinese vector, while the Poti expansion may signal increased U.S. involvement.
Kapanadze said the expansion is positive for Georgia, but added that port tariffs should be reviewed and state interests taken into account. He also argued that the Middle Corridor is becoming more important because of the crisis in the Middle East and the Russia-Ukraine war, which has blocked northern routes.
In his view, much of Eurasian transport now passes through Georgia and Azerbaijan. He said the Poti event was important because it showed American interest in competition with Chinese interests in the region.
