The new multimodal terminal in the port of Poti is set to be launched in April 2025.

This announcement was made during a meeting between the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Oljas Bektenov, and the Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Kobakhidze, who arrived in Kazakhstan on an official visit.

This project will serve as a crucial link in the development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) and will enhance logistics connections between Asia and Europe.

It marks Kazakhstan’s first infrastructure investment in the port of Poti.

The new infrastructure will provide Kazakhstan with more efficient cargo delivery routes via Azerbaijan and Georgia, while also creating additional business opportunities, particularly in Turkey and European markets.

An agreement for the construction of a new multimodal container terminal at the Poti seaport was signed between PTC Holding and the Georgian authorities in Tbilisi in June 2023. Two months later, in August 2023, a ceremonial capsule-laying event took place in Poti to mark the beginning of the project. Initially, the terminal was scheduled to open in 2024.

Key Features of the Terminal:

• Size: The terminal will cover 9 hectares and will be equipped with all necessary facilities for handling container cargo.
• Annual Capacity: Up to 80,000 TEU (TEU – equivalent of a 20-foot container), helping to accommodate the growing demand for container transportation and alleviate congestion on existing routes.
• Operational Efficiency: The terminal will introduce flexible logistics operations, reducing cargo handling time.

Expanding Economic Cooperation

“Within the framework of the joint intergovernmental commission, work is underway to increase trade turnover. The roadmap for expanding the range of mutual trade for 2023-2026 is being implemented. The list of products exported from Kazakhstan is expanding with new types of non-commodity goods. Measures are being taken to promote 35 types of Kazakhstani goods worth over $66 million to the Georgian market. This includes products from the petrochemical, metallurgical, food, chemical, and mechanical engineering industries,” noted Oljas Bektenov during his meeting with Irakli Kobakhidze.

Bektenov also highlighted that in the past year, cargo transportation along the TITR increased by 62% to 4.5 million tons. To further enhance the corridor’s potential and address existing bottlenecks, efforts are being made to upgrade infrastructure, expand port and terminal capacities, increase rolling stock, remove administrative barriers, and create favorable conditions for carriers. He reaffirmed that the Kazakh government remains committed to fostering the dynamic development of the Kazakh-Georgian partnership across multiple sectors.

It is expected that these measures will increase the throughput capacity of the Middle Corridor to 10 million tons per year by 2027.

About the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route

The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR, or Middle Corridor) is a strategic international transport corridor that passes through China, Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, and onwards to Europe. This route is also part of the Belt and Road Initiative, a modern-day revival of the ancient Silk Road.

In September 2022, Kazakh authorities announced an ambitious program to develop an external terminal network in the ports of Iran, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey. The construction of a new multimodal container terminal in Poti forms a key component of this initiative.

Source: 24.kz, www.ekhokavkaza.com, www.trend.az, seanews.ru