Uzbekistan begins construction of $18 million terminal in Georgian port to enhance trade with Europe

The terminal, which spans an area of 30 hectares, represents an investment of 50 million Georgian lari (approximately $18.3 million). The first phase of the project includes the construction of a cold storage facility with a capacity of 1,000 tons for frozen goods. The second phase will feature a 5,000-square-meter warehouse for general cargo. The third and final phase involves the development of a warehouse for bulk cargo and a terminal for oversized and container shipments.

The facility will handle goods arriving from Uzbekistan for further export to European markets. Additionally, it will facilitate the transshipment of European goods bound for Uzbekistan and other Central Asian nations.

David Ebralidze, Director of the Poti Free Industrial Zone, highlighted the significance of the project, noting that negotiations with Uzbek partners had been ongoing for a year. "We discussed the details extensively, and now the project is moving forward. It is a strategically important initiative for both sides," Ebralidze stated.

The project was first introduced in July last year as part of Uzbekistan’s cooperation with the Uzbekistan Textile Industry Association. At that time, discussions centered on the export of Uzbek cotton, silk, and textile products to the U.S., Canada, and Japan.

Since 2022, Uzbekistan has also been utilizing a new railway route to deliver goods to Europe. The route passes through the Caspian port of Turkmenbashi, with cargo shipped across the Caspian Sea to Baku, Azerbaijan. From there, goods travel via Azerbaijan and Georgia to Poti, before crossing the Black Sea to Burgas, Bulgaria. The total length of this "Middle Corridor" exceeds 4,000 kilometers.