BAKU, Azerbaijan, September
25. As much as 75% of Georgia’s East-West Highway
has already been completed, while the remaining cross-border
connections are expected to be finished by 2030, Deputy Economy and
Sustainable Development Minister Vakhtang Tsintsadze said today at
the second Azerbaijan International Investment Forum in Baku,
Trend’s correspondent reports
from the event.
He noted that Georgia is one of the key links in the Middle
Corridor.
"We are working to upgrade the majority of our
infrastructure—particularly critical infrastructure—essential for
the Middle Corridor to operate at its full capacity. Once this
highway project is completed, the transit time from Rikoti to Sarpi
will be reduced from eight hours to four. A significant aspect of
the railway modernization is that the project has already been
completed, cutting freight transit time from 24 hours to 12.
I must also mention the Anaklia deep-sea port, a key element of
the Middle Corridor, which is set to begin operations in 2029. In
its first phase, the Anaklia port will have the capacity to handle
up to 600,000 TEUs of containers and 10 million tons of dry cargo,"
he forecasted.
The deputy minister added that all this infrastructure is
intended to increase the Middle Corridor's throughput capacity and
support its efficient operation.
The second Azerbaijan International Investment Forum is being
held in Baku.
The two-day forum is organized by Azerbaijan’s Ministry of
Economy and its subordinate Azerbaijan Export and Investment
Promotion Agency (AZPROMO), in strategic partnership with European
House – Ambrosetti.
Plenary and panel sessions at the event will address strategic
issues including the Middle Corridor, energy and the green
transition, artificial intelligence and digital transformation,
infrastructure, industry and free economic zones, critical raw
materials, agribusiness, financial cooperation, small and
medium-sized business development, tourism, real estate and
investment in human capital.
