Uzbek Transport Minister: Uzbekistan must actively participate in Anaklia, Poti ports development

Uzbekistan’s Transport Minister Ilkhom Makhkamov on Saturday said that inspections of the Anaklia Deep Sea Port and Poti port infrastructure demonstrated the necessity for Uzbekistan to participate in the development of these strategic facilities and establish a presence in the region’s key transport infrastructure.

In his remarks, Makhkamov emphasised that the ongoing construction at Anaklia and the existing infrastructure in Poti are of strategic importance not only for Georgia but for Uzbekistan as well.

“Today’s visits to these strategic facilities have shown that it is necessary for Uzbekistan to participate in the development of these strategic facilities and, in general, to be present in these infrastructure facilities”, Makhkamov said.

He noted that Uzbekistan was actively advancing the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project, which would generate additional cargo flows directed toward the Middle Corridor.

The Minister confirmed that the two sides have agreed to begin immediate preparations to handle larger volumes of cargo passing through this route.

“This will allow us to increase additional volumes, which will gradually go towards the Middle Corridor. Therefore, we agreed with our colleagues that we will start preparing right now for the large volume of cargo that will pass through the Middle Corridor”, he concluded.

Georgian Economy Minister Mariam Kvrivishvili on Saturday presented the ongoing construction of the Anaklia Deep Sea Port to Uzbekistan’s Minister of Investments, Industry and Trade Laziz Kudratov and Minister of Transport Ilkhom Makhkamov during their visit to Georgia.