Georgia expects container volumes through its ports to surpass 700,000 units in 2025, the country told the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
Middle Corridor Emerges as Key East–West Trade Route
Speaking at the 34th session of the IMO Assembly in London on 25 November, Economy and Sustainable Development Minister Mariam Kvrivishvili said Georgian ports are handling increased demand while operating “stably and efficiently”.
The revised outlook, presented to more than 150 delegations, reflects continued growth across the country’s maritime infrastructure and logistics chain. Kvrivishvili described Georgia as “a gateway, a partner, and a bridge between regions”, linking Europe and Asia through the Middle Corridor.
She noted that real GDP grew on average by 9.8% between 2021 and 2024 and by 7.8% in the first nine months of 2025, attributing much of the momentum to transport, logistics and maritime activity.
The minister highlighted the Middle Corridor as a reliable and increasingly important east–west route, saying Georgia’s competitive advantage stems from an integrated multimodal system built on modern ports, an expanded railway network and upgraded highways.
She also presented details of regulatory and institutional reforms across the maritime sector, including efforts to strengthen compliance with international standards and improve the performance of maritime institutions.
Training Pipeline Expands Across Batumi and Poti
According to Georgian officials, the country completed a voluntary IMO audit in 2015 and a mandatory audit in 2025. Kvrivishvili placed significant attention on human capital, stating that certificates for Georgian seafarers are recognised by 74 maritime administrations, including 22 in the EU.
Georgia has around 20,000 registered seafarers and trains about 2,000 students annually at two maritime universities in Batumi and Poti, as well as at vocational schools.
In meetings in London, she and her deputies briefed IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez on reforms in maritime safety, port management, digitalisation and seafarer welfare.
The Georgian delegation also held bilateral talks. Discussions with Cyprus covered seafarer employment, port modernisation, digitalisation and environmental standards, with officials noting that Georgia has transposed all maritime transport commitments under its EU Association Agreement. Talks with Singapore focused on digitalisation, green-port practices and the rollout of Georgia’s maritime single window and port community system, along with cooperation on safety systems, hydrography, human capital and innovation.
Domestically, the forecast comes as Georgia works to expand port capacity and strengthen its position on Black Sea routes. Four seaports currently operate in the country, with Poti and Batumi handling most container traffic. The government is advancing plans for the Anaklia Deep Sea Port as a fifth facility aimed at increasing long-term logistics capacity, attracting industrial investment along the coast and reinforcing the Middle Corridor.
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Source: en.portnews
