MINISTRY OF ECONOMY
AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
OF GEORGIA

During the official visit to the Republic of India, the Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, Giorgi Gakharia held meetings with the Minister of Road Transport and Highways and Shipping, Nitin Jayram Gadkari and the Railway Minister of India, Suresh Prabhu. Further prospects of improving the transport links between the two countries were discussed during the meetings. Giorgi Gakharia informed the Indian Government Officials on implemented, ongoing and planned infrastructure projects in Georgia and highlighted the importance of the country as a transportation hub for the region.

Minister of Economy of Georgia highlighted Georgian Government's interest to involve the country in the Mumbai-Bandar Abbas transport corridor, which includes the quick shipment of goods from the port of Mumbai to Europe through the territories of Iran, Azerbaijan and Georgia – via the ports of Poti and Batumi. Representatives of the Indian Railway Ministry expressed their readiness to examine the feasibility of engaging Georgia in the project and the further development opportunities of the transport corridor in this regard. Giorgi Gakharia expressed the wish that the two countries establish close relationship between the railway authorities – thus moving the idea of Georgia’s engagement in the transport corridor onto the technical level for a further review.

Giorgi Gakharia also stressed the importance of Georgia’s participation and its interest in the new Silk Road transport corridor, where our country is currently carrying out various activities and maintains the active communication with all the participating countries, including China. As the Minister noted, this corridor has successfully provided a test transit of trains entering from China's ports, which took a maximum of 14 days. It was also said that Georgia, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan have taken a decision on the fixed tariffs, which will further increase the freight flow through the transport corridor.

Aside from the challenges of the transport corridors, Giorgi Gakharia also spoke about the importance of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway with the representatives of Railway Ministry of India and noted that the project is likely to increase the Asia to Europe cargo rail potential, as well as to facilitate the transit capacity and competitiveness of Georgia in terms of the time and the price.