MINISTRY OF ECONOMY
AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
OF GEORGIA

Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Levan Davitashvili answered the questions of the MPs about the progress of the Anaklia Deep Sea Port project in the interpellation format.

According to the Vice Prime Minister, in 2022, important work was done to update the studies, because the geopolitical situation in the region has changed, and therefore, a lot of data has been clarified to make the Anaklia Port project reliable for potential partners. The selection process was conducted in accordance with the new legislation of Georgia on private and public partnership, which is fully in line with the best international practice.

“We have invited one of the leading international consulting companies  - Maritime & Transport Business Solutions (MTBS), as well as a technical consultant to manage the process at a high level - the company PORT consultancy Rotrerdam BV (PCR) and also a very well-known international legal company – Squire Patton Boggs. Together with these three companies, we started the process of selection of a private partner. An interdepartmental government commission was established. Applications were submitted from four different interested groups, where certain technical issues were to be clarified, they were given an additional month for this, and finally, the inter-agency commission, taking into account the advice of the consulting companies, selected two bidders for the next stage - a Swiss-Luxembourg company and a Chinese-Singapore company. Accordingly, at the next stage we will have two bidders, with whom we will hold negotiations for several months to receive proposals from their side - it depends on the competitiveness and quality of these proposals, who will be the private partner in the end,” – Vice Prime Minister stated.

Minister explained that qualified candidates will be given a period of several months to present a technical, commercial and financial proposal, after the evaluation of which the commission will identify the winner and the Ministry of Economy will start negotiations on the concession contract and the partnership agreement.

Vice Prime Minister noted that the state will have a controlling share in the Anaklia Port, which is important to protect Georgia’s interests as much as possible. “The structure of the shares of Anaklia Port will be as follows – 51% will be owned by the state of Georgia, and 49% by a private partner. This is important so that the interest and influence of no state dominates the interests of Georgia, and this project, like other important, critical infrastructure projects, serves the interests of our country and our economy” – Davitashvili said.

Levan Davitashvili informed that a Anaklia Port Construction Tender will be announced in the next few weeks, which will be managed by the state enterprise Anaklia Sea Port and the construction company will be selected. As for the terms, according to the Vice Prime Minister, the Port should be operational within 3 years from the start of construction by the public-private partnership company (concessionaire). 9 months after the signing of the contract is defined as the period for the start of construction. According to the Minister, during this period all the preparatory works should be completed and the construction company will be legally ready to start the works.