The construction of the Anaklia Deepwater Port has begun and has already entered an active phase, Economy and Sustainable Development Minister Mariam Kvrivishvili said during a visit to the project site.
The minister, together with Vice Prime Minister and Defence Minister Irakli Chikovani, visited the construction area of the strategically important port project for the first time.
Kvrivishvili said negotiations with the contractor company led to optimisation of the initial contract, reducing project costs by $52 million.
“The Anaklia Deepwater Port is a project of strategic importance for the economy of our country,” Kvrivishvili said. “It will be a complex facility that includes the port, adjacent infrastructure, and a free industrial zone.”
She added that the project also includes an access road and a railway line, which are expected to support port operations.
The minister said construction of a connecting road and an 18-km railway line will begin in the near future.
She noted that the government’s 10-year Georgian Railway development plan positions the railway as part of an integrated transport and logistics system, adding that increased cargo flows require a strong maritime gateway.
Kvrivishvili said the Anaklia project is a “logical continuation” of this process, noting that rail and port development together would strengthen Georgia’s role as a regional transport hub.
She also said international companies and experts are involved in the construction process, while emphasis is placed on employing local residents.
The marine infrastructure works are being carried out by Belgian company Jan De Nul N.V., part of Europe’s so-called “Big Four” construction groups.
