MINISTRY OF ECONOMY
AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
OF GEORGIA

Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, Mariam Kvrivishvili participated in an official event related to the completion of the Georgian Railway modernization project along with Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze. In her speech, Mariam Kvrivishvili spoke about the importance of the project in the process of developing the country’s transport and transit capabilities.

“2025 has turned out to be a year full of challenges and a turning point for our country; we have initiated a completely new and deep process of reform in many areas of the economy and infrastructure. This involved the optimization of enterprises, the revision of current obligations, contracts, and plans, the identification and elimination of shortcomings, systemic changes in many places, and the renewal of processes from a clean slate in others. One of such landmark projects of pivotal importance for the country is the modernization of the Georgian Railway” – Mariam Kvrivishvili stated.

The event was held in Kvishkheti, at the entrance of the region’s largest 8300-meter-long double-tube tunnel built within the framework of the railway modernization project. Georgian Railway has constructed entirely new railway infrastructure on the pass section—tunnels, bridges, stations, and substations, totaling more than a hundred different types of artificial structures. New safety and blocking systems were also installed. An unprecedented investment of 1 billion GEL was made in the railway infrastructure.

“The railway is the most important backbone of the country’s transport system and its development is a special priority for the government. Improving railway infrastructure increases throughput capacity, reduces travel time across the country, facilitates the work of carriers, and adds reliability to our corridor. As a result, Georgia continues to be a reliable partner and a main connecting link between Asia and Europe,” – Mariam Kvrivishvili noted.

The Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development emphasized the importance of Georgia’s geopolitical role, the Middle Corridor route, and developing the country’s transport infrastructure in this process, which, according to the Minister’s assessment, makes the corridor even more reliable. Mariam Kvrivishvili underlined that increasing railway capacity, along with the construction of the Anaklia Deep Sea Port, holds a prominent place in the country’s development strategy. According to the Minister, without these components, the Middle Corridor, of which Georgia is an indispensable part, cannot function properly and will lose its attractiveness. “This is how the Georgian section of the Middle Corridor is developing, the outcomes are already visible – in January-October 2025, cargo turnover between Georgia and China was increased by 40%” – Mariam Kvrivishvili highlighted.

The Minister introduced the government’s vision and plans for the further development of the country’s transport infrastructure and logistics sectors and noted that 7 billion GEL will be invested in the development of strategic transport infrastructure by 2032, of which 1 billion GEL will be used for the further development of the railway.

“As a result, by the 2026 summer season, we will reduce travel time on the Tbilisi-Batumi section by 30 minutes. 2026 will also be distinguished by moving the construction of the Anaklia Deep Sea Port into an active phase and the completion of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway project,” the Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development explained.

Furthermore, Mariam Kvrivishvili emphasized that today, Georgia’s national interest, along with the steadfast implementation of a peace policy, lies in economic indicators, security, sustainable development, and ensuring stability. “Every initiative, any new or ongoing project, serves this single goal – to achieve a better, more developed, more prosperous, peaceful, and united country,” – the Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development summarized.