Georgia Assumes Anaklia Port Following Chinese Withdrawal

The government of Georgia formalized the modification of the development strategy for the Anaklia deep-water port. Local authorities determined that the State will assume absolute ownership of the main infrastructure. This decision consolidates the definitive exit of the Chinese consortium comprised of China Communications Construction Company and China Harbour Investment, firms that held a 49% stake since mid-2024. Speculation regarding the Asian firm’s disengagement began in late 2025 and was ratified through recent ministerial statements.

The State Reconfiguration of Anaklia Port

The public administration will implement an operational scheme in which central control will remain under state supervision. Economy Minister Mariam Kvrivishvili indicated that this format will facilitate cooperation with multiple nations and corporations simultaneously rather than depending on a single global operator. In this manner, authorities seek to diversify maritime cargo capture and ensure long-term profitability. Likewise, the executive projects that the first operational phase of the port facilities will begin functioning in 2029.

The Anaklia reconfiguration responds to the growing relevance of the Middle Corridor, a logistics network connecting Asia with the European continent without transiting through the territory of the Russian Federation. Sovereign control of the project aims to safeguard national interests against changes in international transport dynamics. The road development plan includes railway modernization, highway expansion, and cargo terminal upgrades.

The government budget contemplates a total investment of $7 billion in strategic transport infrastructure with a view to 2032. Although delegations from countries such as Uzbekistan showed preliminary interest in the initiative, Tbilisi authorities have not yet defined definitive investment partners. According to various sector analysts, they interpret that nationalization seeks a political balance that allows recovery of confidence from Western markets, eroded by recent diplomatic tensions with the United States and the European Union. The terminal’s financial viability will depend on its capacity to attract consistent commercial flows in the coming years.

Source and photo: Oil Price