Tbilisi launches new "dry port" to boost trade across Caucasus, Central Asia Video

Tbilisi has inaugurated a new “dry port” designed to become a major container hub for the Caucasus and Central Asia, including Azerbaijan, Türkiye, Armenia, and Kazakhstan.

The project, backed by investors from the United Arab Emirates, has a planned annual capacity of 200,000 containers, Caliber.Az reports, citing Georgian media.

At its current stage, the facility is capable of handling 100,000 containers per year, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced.

More than $21 million has been invested in the first phase of the development.

According to Kobakhidze, this facility is the first of its kind in the region to offer modern container handling capabilities. It is primarily intended to manage freight from China and the wider Far East.

The Prime Minister emphasised the strategic importance of the dry port, stating that, alongside the seaports of Batumi and Poti, and the future Anaklia port, it will play a crucial role in expanding freight transport across the Caucasus and Central Asia via the “Middle Corridor.”

He also highlighted the port’s advantageous location close to road and rail infrastructure, the borders of Armenia and Azerbaijan, and Tbilisi International Airport.

“This dry port will become an efficient logistics centre and a regional container hub,” Kobakhidze said.

The port is set to commence operations on June 4 and occupies an area of 28 hectares.

By Aghakazim Guliyev