MINISTRY OF ECONOMY
AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
OF GEORGIA

Genadi Arveladze, Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, drew attention to the Middle Corridor as a reliable alternative connecting Europe and Asia and the prospects of its development in his speech on the panel within the framework of the 23rd ministerial meeting of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) dedicated to the Middle Corridor development. The event was held in Astana, the city Republic of Kazakhstan.

The Deputy Minister noted that Georgia’s strategic geographical location naturally determines the country's role as a gateway between Europe and Asia. Arveladze highlighted that in recent years, the country has further strengthened its transit and logistics potential through significant investments in transport infrastructure and also by perfecting the legal and institutional framework. Georgian government has adopted a logistics and transport strategy and action plan, and is implementing a number of strategic projects including the railway modernization, Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway line, East-West highway, Anaklia Deep Sea Port, etc.

"We are actively attracting investments in logistics and intermodal facilities in order to strengthen the positions of the regional logistics hub of Georgia," – the Deputy Minister said and stressed on the significance of the growing popularity of the Middle Corridor in terms of the increasing interest of the private sector in relevant logistics projects, which will significantly increase Georgia's integration into regional and international transport networks.

Genadi Arveladze also focused on deepening cooperation between the CAREC countries, including the simplification of transport operations and smooth cross-border transportation along the Middle Corridor, and the use of digital technologies for this purpose.

"With the proper policies and coordinated actions of the corridor countries, we can further expand and develop our transport routes to facilitate trade, as well as give new impetus to economic activities around the corridor and facilitate sustainable development in the CAREC region and beyond. These infrastructural projects will significantly contribute to the integration of Georgia into the regional as well as the international transport networks simultaneously increasing the attractiveness of the Middle Corridor," – Genadi Arveladze stated. The Deputy Minister also noted that the government is actively working on the development of port infrastructure on the Black Sea and the launching of ferry traffic to other Black Sea ports since the increasing the connectivity to the Black Sea ports is the government's priority.  According to Genadi Arveladze, the increase in the frequency of direct ferry traffic to the ports of Romania and Bulgaria had a positive effect on the cargo turnover rate, in particular, according to the data of the 9th month of 2024, it has been increased by 21% compared to the same period of the previous year.

CAREC Ministerial brings together high-ranking representatives of the member countries as well as the heads of such organizations as the Asian Development Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the World Trade Organization, etc. The main discussion of the 23rd ministerial meeting covers the measures, strategic goals and plans to address the climate change in the region.