PM Kobakhidze: Georgia remains ‘reliable partner, ‘peace contributor’ in S. Caucasus

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Wednesday highlighted Georgia’s commitment to maintaining peace and strengthening regional partnerships during a panel discussion at the Tbilisi Silk Road Forum.

“We have done everything over the past years to preserve peace in our country,” Kobakhidze said. “At the same time, we have worked to contribute as much as possible to strengthening peace in our broader region. We consider Georgia a reliable partner for all neighboring countries.”

The prime minister noted that Georgia continued to play a “vital role” as a stable and trustworthy partner in areas such as trade and transit, underscoring close political cooperation with both Armenia and Azerbaijan.

“We are focused on developing this partnership further. Central Asia is also a special priority for us, and there is significant potential for deepening cooperation,” he added.

Kobakhidze highlighted Georgia’s broad network of free trade agreements with the EU, EFTA member states, CIS countries, Turkey, China, and the United Arab Emirates, which, he said, strengthens the country’s global connectivity potential.

Connectivity and Infrastructure Development

Reflecting on progress made over the past decade, Kobakhidze said Georgia has achieved “very significant advancement” in developing its connectivity role, becoming a crucial link between landlocked Central Asian countries and Europe.

“Georgia connects at least seven landlocked countries to the Black Sea and, consequently, to Europe,” he said. “We have made remarkable progress in recent years - container shipments between China and Georgia increased fifteenfold from 2023 to 2024.”

He noted that Georgia is investing heavily in strategic infrastructure, including highways, railway modernization, ports, and airports, all aimed at boosting cooperation and trade across the region.

Energy and Digital Ambitions

Kobakhidze also underlined Georgia’s ambitious energy and digital connectivity agenda, including the Black Sea Submarine Cable Project, implemented jointly with partner countries.

“Our goal is to transform Georgia into the region’s digital hub,” he said. “We are committed to developing our transit function and contributing to the evolution of the Middle Corridor - an essential link between Europe and Asia.”

Concluding his remarks, the prime minister reaffirmed that Georgia’s policy was entirely focused on peace, cooperation, and economic partnership.

“We remain open to collaboration with all partners. Peace, stability, and predictability will continue to guide our policies,” Kobakhidze said.