In a major strategic push to expand its west-bound trade routes, landlocked Uzbekistan has announced plans to establish a dedicated logistics center at Georgia’s Black Sea port of Poti by 2027.
The facility, capable of handling up to 500,000 tonnes of cargo annually, marks a crucial milestone in Tashkent’s efforts to deepen its integration into the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route—widely known as the Middle Corridor.
Key Project Highlights
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Strategic Location: Situated at Georgia’s Poti Free Economic Zone, providing direct warehouse and terminal access to global maritime routes.
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Capacity: Designed to process roughly half a million tonnes of Uzbek import and export cargo every year.
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Implementation Timeline: Operational target set for 2027, aligning with wider regional transport infrastructure upgrades.
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Consortium Approach: A newly formed consortium of major Uzbek freight-forwarding companies is being organized to oversee investment and development.
Expanding the Middle Corridor
The announcement follows a rapid acceleration of transport and economic ties between Tashkent and Tbilisi, elevated following high-level state visits and strategic partnership agreements. With over 60% of Uzbekistan’s road freight currently relying on Georgian transit corridors, the new hub will drastically streamline storage, containerization, and transshipment processes.
Speaking on the development, Uzbek officials emphasized that securing dedicated port infrastructure is essential for circumventing traditional northern supply chains and tapping directly into European markets. Alongside the Poti project, Uzbekistan is also eyeing longer-term participation in Georgia’s ambitious Anaklia deep-sea port development.
“Georgia provides a vital maritime gateway to Europe through its Black Sea ports,” noted government trade representatives, highlighting that the initiative will heavily support the countries’ shared objective to boost bilateral trade toward the $1 billion mark.
Looking Ahead
As work progresses toward the 2027 launch, both nations are also advancing digital reforms—including the complete transition to electronic permit exchanges for road transport—to minimize border delays and reduce friction across Eurasian supply chains.