MINISTRY OF ECONOMY
AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
OF GEORGIA

“The role of the Middle Corridor as a key economic route between Europe and Asia is permanently increasing. The corridor’s increasing importance lies in its strategic location, which is becoming a faster alternative to traditional trade routes and strengthens the resilience of the supply chain. The economic potential of the corridor is growing more and more with continuous investment in infrastructure and logistics,” – Genadi Arveladze, Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, said while speaking at a panel session within the framework of the annual meeting of national representatives of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Organization (CAREC) member states, which was dedicated to simplifying trade procedures and transport connectivity issues. The annual meeting was held in Manila, Philippines, organized by the Asian Development Bank.

As the Deputy Minister stated, the growing importance of the Middle Corridor as an alternative route has already been reflected in the significant growth of shipping volumes – in 2024, container shipping between China and Georgia through the Middle Corridor increased 15 times and reached a record 12 678 TEU.

Genadi Arveladze introduced the participants of the panel session to the main transport and logistics infrastructure projects in Georgia, among which he paid particular attention to the railway modernization project, the development of the East-West Highway, the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars Railway, the Anaklia Deep Sea Port, and others. He also spoke about the reforms that have been implemented in Georgia to improve road and railway safety standards.

“Georgia’s priority is to strengthen the competitiveness of the Middle Corridor, which allows it to strengthen its position as a key logistics and trade hub of the corridor. In this context, CAREC's transport corridor projects are vital for strengthening connectivity and improving the efficiency of operating systems,” – the Deputy Minister said. Arveladze thanked the Asian Development Bank for supporting the development of the country's transport infrastructure.

At the annual meeting of national representatives of the CAREC member states, the progress of the implementation of CAREC's Strategy 2030 was discussed and a future action plan was developed. The process of implementing sectoral strategies was also reviewed, which concerns such important areas as transport, trade, energy, and digital transformation themes.