State-led Anaklia port model will protect national interests, diversify partners, Georgian PM

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has said the Anaklia deep-sea port will be built with the direct involvement of the state under a new model aimed at protecting national interests and allowing multiple international partners to participate in its operation.

Kobakhidze thanked the Economy Ministry and Economy Minister Mariam Kvrivishvili for changing the approach to the development of the port, which had previously been planned in cooperation with a single partner.

“The approach has now changed, and the port will be built with the direct involvement of the state. The state will lead this process, and the port, which will remain state-owned, may then be transferred to several entities for operation,” Kobakhidze said.

He described the approach as an “ideal model” that would ensure maximum protection of Georgia’s national interests while diversifying partners and helping attract as much cargo as possible to the port.

Kvrivishvili said the government had decided to develop Anaklia port under a landlord port model, with the state retaining ownership of the core maritime and port infrastructure.

She added Anaklia would remain a Georgian-owned port, while international companies would be involved in operating terminal infrastructure, which would not give them ownership of the port.