Georgia's billion-dollar project on the Black Sea
Why the Deep-Water Port of Anaklia Is More Than Just Infrastructure
Author: Dietrich Schartner
A Port as an Economic Turning Point
Georgia is banking on a project that could fundamentally transform the country’s economic role: the Anaklia deep-sea port. With a planned total investment of around 2.5 billion U.S. dollars, the project ranks among the largest infrastructure projects in the country’s history.
But Anaklia is far more than a traditional port construction project. For the government in Tbilisi, it is at the heart of a strategic reorientation: Georgia aims to evolve from a transit route into a central logistics hub between Europe and Asia.
The Missing Piece of the “Middle Corridor” Puzzle
The project’s geopolitical significance is closely linked to the so-called “Middle Corridor”—a trade route connecting China and Central Asia with Europe via the South Caucasus. This route has been gaining increasing importance since the war in Ukraine, as alternatives to transport routes through Russia are being sought.
This is exactly where Anaklia comes in. The port is intended to serve as a central hub and, for the first time, be able to handle large container ships on the Black Sea. With a planned water depth of 16 meters, it will be significantly more efficient than existing Georgian ports. Without such infrastructure, experts warn that Georgia risks falling behind in the competition for transit flows.
Capacity and Economic Impact
In the first phase of expansion, the port is expected to handle up to 600,000 containers annually; in the long term, capacities of over 100 million tons of cargo are even planned.
The economic effects extend far beyond mere cargo handling. Anaklia is planned as a comprehensive logistics and industrial hub, including rail and road connections as well as potential free trade zones.
The government expects rising transit revenues, new jobs, and additional investments along the entire value chain. Several hundred jobs were created even in the early project phases, with significant growth potential.
Between Progress and Uncertainty
Despite its strategic importance, the project is not without challenges. Construction has been delayed several times, partly due to financing problems and political differences in the past.
Even now, the project’s implementation remains uncertain. For instance, the state budget for the project was significantly reduced in 2026, suggesting an adjustment to the pace of construction.
At the same time, the government emphasizes that Anaklia remains a priority and is considered a key project for long-term economic resilience.
More than a port
The political rhetoric surrounding Anaklia clearly demonstrates the scope of the ambitions. The port is viewed not merely as an infrastructure project, but as a platform for economic transformation. The goal is to attract international trade flows, integrate global shipping companies, and establish Georgia as an integral part of global supply chains.
This also entails a structural shift: away from a heavily consumption- and service-driven economy toward a more integrated logistics and trade hub.
A Project with Symbolic Significance
The deep-sea port of Anaklia exemplifies Georgia’s economic strategy for 2026. In a time of geopolitical upheaval, the country is actively seeking to translate its location between Europe and Asia into economic advantages.
Whether this project succeeds, however, depends not only on construction progress. The decisive factor will be whether infrastructure, investment, and regional cooperation can actually be combined into a functioning logistics system.
Anaklia is thus less a single project than a test case: for Georgia’s role in international trade—and for the economic future of the entire South Caucasus.
