Georgian Economy Minister: Anaklia port to handle 1 million TEU by 2035, establishing Georgia as Black Sea hub for Central Asian cargo

Mariam Kvrivishvili, the Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, on Thursday announced that the Anaklia Port would process at least 1 million TEU by 2035, positioning Georgia as a key transit hub in the Black Sea for Central Asian freight.

In her remarks, Kvrivishvili highlighted the need to develop additional ferry connections between Georgia and EU ports.

“Amid growing demand for regional transit, renewed interest from the private sector, and strengthened EU-Georgia connectivity initiatives, new opportunities are emerging that create a favourable environment for expanding vital maritime infrastructure and connections”, she said.

The Minister focused on the challenges and opportunities Georgia faces in better fulfilling its transit goals. According to Kvrivishvili, despite the record volumes of containers handled in Georgia over the past two years, the absence of a deep-sea port remains a key strategic issue.

“After the launch of this project, Anaklia Port will process up to 600,000 TEU in the first phase by 2029 and at least 1 million TEU in the second phase by 2035, which will enable Georgia to become the main hub in the Black Sea region for Central Asian cargo”, she noted.

Kvrivishvili also identified the development of additional ferry connections between EU and Georgian ports as another challenge.

“Georgia currently maintains regular direct ferry services with Bulgaria and Romania. Therefore, this initiative is rightly considered a key undertaking in EU-Georgia relations”, the Minister said.

Kvrivishvili stressed the issue of non-harmonised customs regulations and other barriers among the countries along transport corridors, which increase transit time for freight.

As a result, the Minister proposed data sharing and full digitalisation of the transit corridor to ensure uninterrupted cargo movement.

According to Kvrivishvili, significant progress was expected with the upcoming agreement on the Caspian Sea - Black Sea International Transport Route, which would be signed in December of this year between Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Romania.

This initiative would create a new multimodal connection from the Caspian region to the European Union, enhance connectivity, diversify access routes, and strengthen resilience.

The Minister stated that in 2026, Georgia’s main transport and logistics priorities would include the complete renewal of railway rolling stock and freight fleet, completion of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway, and implementation of unified digital services for both the public and private sectors.

According to her, these measures would significantly increase throughput and operational efficiency, and will reduce transit time through Georgia by 30%.

“To fully unlock the transport and logistics potential of Central Asia, the Caspian region, the South Caucasus, and the Black Sea, coordinated financing is essential. In this regard, Georgia has committed to investing USD 7 billion in core transport and logistics infrastructure by 2032. Achieving this ambition requires not only the continuous involvement of international financial institutions - whose expertise and long-term capital are irreplaceable - but also stronger mobilisation of private sector investments. Only through a well-coordinated partnership between public and private financial participants will it be possible to establish in the region the kind of modern, efficient, and sustainable networks demanded by today’s global economy,” Krivishvili concluded.