PM Kobakhidze: State-backed delivery of Anaklia Port is ideal model to safeguard national interests and diversify partnerships

“I would like to extend my sincere gratitude directly to the Ministry of Economy and the Minister of Economy herself, as our approach to constructing the Anaklia Port has evolved, and the port will now be built with the direct involvement of the state,” the Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Kobakhidze, has declared.

According to him, this constitutes an ideal model that guarantees the maximum protection of national interests while ensuring a diverse range of partners.

“I want to offer my profound thanks specifically to the Ministry of Economy and the Minister of Economy. It was vital to advance the project using this strategy. As you know, the previous plan was to develop the Anaklia Deep Sea Port in tandem with one specific partner. This approach has now changed, and the port will be built with direct state participation. The state will spearhead the process, and operations may subsequently be handed over to several different entities, while the port itself remains state property. This is an ideal model that ensures our national interests are fully protected and likewise guarantees a diversity of partners. It is crucially important that we attract the maximum volume of cargo to Anaklia, which is essential for the port to operate at peak efficiency,” Irakli Kobakhidze stated.

For context, the Georgian Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, Mariam Kvrivishvili, previously announced that the government had decided to build the Anaklia Port under a landlord model. Under this framework, the state will remain the owner of the core maritime and port infrastructure. She added that Anaklia will be a truly Georgian port, with international companies directly involved in managing terminal infrastructure, which has no bearing on actual ownership.