The government of Georgia has issued a request for expressions of interest to develop the new Deep Water Sea Port of Anaklia, in western Georgia.

The project will be developed on a design, build, finance operation and maintenance basis.

The project involves the development of a deep water sea port with an initial capacity to handle 7 million tons and gradually increasing its capacity to at least 40 million tons in twelve years.

Interested parties must submit their expressions of interest on or before 1 October 2014.

Irakli Garibashvili, Prime Minister of Georgia, stated:

I do believe that the new Deep Water Sea Port of Anaklia will be of historical importance for the country. We have worked very hard on this issue and the decision to build a sea port of Anaklia was made on the basis of the respective surveys and resulting conclusions. This is one of the most active and prospective project for Georgia.

Giorgi Kvirikashvili, Minister of Economy, commented:

Anaklia Sea Port will be one of the main maritime gateways for Georgia and one of the main logistics centre in South Caucasia. Hundreds of millions of dollars will be invested in this project by local and international companies, transport and logistical hub near the Port will be developed that will promote the development not only Samegrelo region, but the country in general. We believe that the construction of the Anaklia Sea port will be one of the most important projects in terms of the economic development of the country.

The port will be constructed in phases:

• The first three phases of the construction presupposes that within 12 years from the commencement of the construction, annual turnover in the port will reach at least 40 million tons (on 3rd year at least 7 million tons, on the 7th year at least 20 million tons and on the 12th year at least 40 million tons).
• The 4th phase and each of the next phases shall commence only after the cargo turnover of the port will have reached 90% by that time.
• After the 3rd phase, prior to the commencement of the next phase, feasibility study  shall be prepared by an internationally recognized consulting firm.
• The port will be able to receive a vessel loaded with at least 6,500 containers.

See project presentation:http://www.economy.ge/uploads/news/giorgi_kvirikashvili/2014/Presentation_of_the_Anaklia_New_Deep_Sea_Port_10.07.2014_1.pdf