A Georgian ruling party lawmaker, David Matikashvili, on Monday responded to the recent “disappointment” expressed by US Senate Foreign Relations Committee member Jeanne Shaheen over Tbilisi’s decision to transfer the development of the Anaklia Deepwater Port to a Chinese company.
Matikashvili, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Procedural Issues, argued that the US had been offered favorable conditions during earlier stages of the project but failed to meet its financial obligations.
Matikashvili explained that the American side was given “greenhouse conditions” in the initial consortium to build the Anaklia port, with multiple extensions and requests from Georgian state authorities asking the US to fulfill its commitments. However, “despite these opportunities, the US failed to invest the necessary funds.”
“When the consortium’s obligations could not be fulfilled, the second open competition was announced, where American companies could have freely participated. Yet, no American companies took part,” said Matikashvili. “The competition was won by the company offering the best terms, and the US now seems upset about it.”
The MP questioned why American officials were now expressing concerns about the construction of the Anaklia port, a key part of the Middle Corridor. “If the US had been genuinely interested in the project, they could have directed their resources there instead of financing other sectors,” he added.
