Multi-functional port earmarked for Anaklia

Friday, July 4

A feasibility study has revealed Anaklia, a Black Sea city near Georgia’s Abkhazia region, is the best place for constructing a sea port.

The in-depth analysis of ten possible locations between Enguri and Tchorokhi rivers across the Black Sea found Anaklia was the best place to invest and build the port.

The announcement was made by the press office of the Prime Minister of Georgia after the Economic Council’s meeting today, which is chaired by PM Irakli Garibashvili.

The research was financed by the Partnership Fund, the state-owned fund created to attract investments from abroad. Partnership Fund director Irakli Kovzanadze believed the port would be multi-functional and would serve large capacity vessels.

"The competitive advantage of the Anaklia Port compared to other locations is its big territory spread over 2,000 hectares and access to a deep sea canyon. Furthermore, there are possibilities in the future to expand and further develop the port,” Kovzanadze said.

The Economy and Sustainable Development Ministry of Georgia will announce the expression of interest for building the port next week.

As well as construction of Anaklia Port, development of logistics and industry zones and construction of an airport and liquid gas terminal are also planned for the region.

"The government also plans to announce the free economic zone on the territory of the Anaklia Port,” the Economy and Sustainable Development Giorgi Kvirikashvili said.

He also believed Anaklia Port will increase Georgia’s capacity as a regional transport-transit hub.

In early December 2011, the previous government considered building a new city and port on Georgia's Black Sea, between Anaklia and Kulevi, further north from the port town of Poti on the same territory where the new building is planned.

At the time, ex-president Mikheil Saakshvili announced at least half a million people would live in the city in the next ten years but the project initially required 1-1.5 billion GEL for the city to be built.

There were many controversial ideas about the future importance of the proposed projects. After the new government came into power, the project momentum stopped, however it always said building the Anaklia Port was still a possibility. (agenda.ge)