PM Kobakhidze: 10-year plan aims to double rail and port capacity, triple airport throughput

“Hosting the International Maritime Forum holds exceptional significance amid new global economic challenges, at a time when the diversification of trade routes, supply chain resilience, and reliable connectivity between Europe and Asia are growing increasingly vital,” Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Kobakhidze declared during his address at the Georgia International Maritime Forum (GIMF 2026) in Batumi.

According to the Prime Minister, Georgia has for centuries served as a meeting point between East and West, Europe and Asia, and today stands as an integral component of the Middle Corridor with vast strategic potential.

“I am delighted to welcome representatives of partner states, international organisations, and maritime industry professionals to the Georgia International Maritime Forum here in Batumi today.

Hosting the Maritime Forum is of paramount importance against the backdrop of emerging global economic challenges, as route diversification, supply chain resilience, and dependable links between Europe and Asia assume an ever greater role. For centuries, Georgia has been a crossroads where East meets West, Europe meets Asia. Today, we form an indispensable link in the Middle Corridor, a route endowed with immense potential and strategic weight.

According to World Bank estimates, given targeted investments and efficiency gains, cargo throughput along the Middle Corridor could triple by 2030, while transit times could be halved.

We have developed a comprehensive long-term strategy to capitalise on this opportunity. Through 2032, we plan to mobilise approximately USD 7 billion to develop core transport and logistics infrastructure.

Our 10-year plan entails doubling railway throughput capacity while halving transit times, doubling seaport capacity, and tripling the capacity of our international airports.

This vision has already yielded concrete measures and substantial investments. We have launched an historic overhaul of Georgian Railway; in the current year alone, over one billion GEL is being invested in upgrading rail infrastructure and rolling stock. Furthermore, construction of 75 per cent of the East-West International Highway has already been completed,” the Prime Minister stated.