2024-10-22
Today, we are celebrating the launch of the construction of Anaklia Deep-Sea Port, a project of enormous strategic importance to the country, Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Kobakhidze stated in his speech at today's event marking the beginning of the design and construction of Anaklia Deep-Sea Port's water infrastructure.
According to the Head of Government, in the project's initial phase, the process of construction proper will employ over 500 people for building and logistics purposes, with the port's capacity and expected investment value throughout phase one to make up 600,000 containers a year and 600 million USD, respectively.
Importantly, the development of the country's strategically far-reaching project will engage such experienced and internationally reputable company as Belgium-based Jan De Nul, the Prime Minister added.
"Jan De Nul specializes in marine construction. Notably, the company has carried out in full or partially such projects as Panama Canal expansion, the Suez Canal in Egypt, the port of Nador in Morocco, deepening work at the Port of Hamburg, Dubai's artificial island and waterfront, etc. This list bears witness to the company's extraordinary experience, and we are excited about its involvement in the development of Anaklia Deep-Sea Port," Irakli Kobakhidze said.
As for the selection of a private partner for the port's project, according to the Prime Minister, at this point proposal details are being specified with a Chinese-Singaporean consortium, to be followed by signing a partnership and concession agreement in the nearest future.
"When presenting the Government Program, we set the year 2029 as the date for receiving the first ship at Anaklia. However, I believe that works will unfold even faster. We already have a professional contractor company. Works are in full swing, so we hope to commission new infrastructure and put the port to operation ahead of schedule. Anaklia Deep-Sea Port is a strategically important project for Georgia poised to play an important role in both the development of the country's port infrastructure and the infrastructural betterment of the Middle Corridor as a whole, also upgrading its competitiveness, and linking European and Asian transport systems. Anaklia Port will foster the country's economic development, raise Georgia's regional and international importance, and cement our security. The implementation of this project is crucially important in every way, both economically and politically. I want to thank everyone involved in the implementation of this project. I am especially grateful to the First Vice Prime Minister who is in charge of the relevant processes. I am thankful to our partner company, engineers, builders, everyone involved in the implementation of this project that has enormous strategic importance to our country," the Prime Minister said.
The event's invited guests were addressed with speeches by the First Vice Prime Minister/Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, Levan Davitashvili, the Managing Director of the Belgian marine infrastructure building company Jan De Nul, Jan Pieter De Nul, and the Director of Anaklia Sea Port LLC, Zurab Sichinava. As part of the ceremony, Levan Davitashvili and Jan Pieter De Nul signed the Memorandum of Cooperation between the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia and Jan De Nul. Based on this document, the students of Batumi State Maritime Academy will be offered internships aboard a ship owned by Jan De Nul and designated to conduct deepening works at Anaklia.
Press Service of the Government Administration