Amid U.S. Interference, Georgia Prepares to Restart Talks with China on Involvement in Black Sea Anaklia Deep-Water Port Project
Tbilisi, April 23 (Interfax) – Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze stated that a delegation from Georgia's Ministry of Economy plans to discuss the participation of Chinese companies in the construction of the Anaklia deep-water port during an upcoming visit to China.
"During the visit of Minister of Economy Mariam Kvirikashvili to China, issues including the Anaklia port will be discussed, among other topics. All matters, including the Anaklia port, will be addressed during the trip. We still have strong interest in this project, and negotiations are ongoing; we must await further developments," Kobakhidze said in an interview with media outlets, as reported by the Georgian bm website.
"Let us wait and see. Information about the Anaklia port will soon be announced," he added.
In 2024, a joint venture between China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) and China Harbour Investment (Singapore) was selected as the preferred partner for the Anaklia port construction project in an international bidding process. However, the Georgian government has not yet officially announced the winning consortium.
In April 2025, members of the U.S. Congress’s Helsinki Commission (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe) expressed concern over Georgia’s decision to authorize a Chinese corporate group to build the Anaklia port project, due to the involvement of entities subject to U.S. sanctions. The Helsinki Commission warned that they were concerned about Chinese control over the Anaklia port and its potential dominant position in the Black Sea region.
In May 2025, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Megobari Act, increasing pressure on Georgia to refrain from awarding the port project to Chinese state-owned enterprises.
Subsequently, the Georgian government signed a dredging contract for the Anaklia port with Belgian company Jan De Nul, with work commencing last year. Kobakhidze said in early April this year that, in order to save budget funds, the Georgian government had reduced the contract amount with Jan De Nul by $52.5 million, representing a 25% decrease.
Meanwhile, amid the backdrop of Middle East conflicts, a U.S. State Department delegation visited the Anaklia port and surrounding infrastructure development sites in late March. Kobakhidze stated that Georgia’s strategic partnership with the United States may be restored. "Over recent periods, multiple negotiations have taken place between both sides. All these efforts give us optimism regarding the revival of our strategic partnership with the U.S.," Kobakhidze remarked.
Georgian authorities have repeatedly stated that the Anaklia port is scheduled to begin formal operations in 2029. The first phase of the project is expected to handle 600,000 containers annually (7.8 million tons of cargo), with construction costs estimated at around $600 million. A free industrial zone will also be developed near the port.
If implemented, the Anaklia port would become Georgia’s only deep-water port capable of serving Panamax and post-Panamax cargo vessels—ships currently forced to dock only at Turkish or Russian ports. Additionally, this deep-water port would enhance the capacity of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (Middle Corridor), a strategically vital land-based trade corridor passing through Georgia that connects Europe, Central Asia, and China.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1863668249670664/
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