PORTS in Georgia need to improve their services and logistical connectivity to the hinterland, in order for the country to remain a key transit corridor for the Caucasus, according to business development director Jacob Gulmann of ICTSI for Europe, Middle East and Africa.
Speaking at the 6th Black Sea Ports Conference and Exhibit in Adjara, Georgia, Mr Gulman warned that Georgia's role as a logistics corridor to the Caucasus and Central Asia region is facing a growing threat from the ports in West Asia and Iran. Indeed, Georgian ports have since 2014 experienced a decrease in container throughput due to economic weakness and the re-emergence of Iran.
"The emergence of Iran and other West Asian ports prompted [Batumi International Container Terminal] to take action and expand for us to be able to compete and be at par with the best ports in the world. We fully support the Georgian government's initiatives to ensure that the country's ports remain globally competitive," said Mr Gulmann at the event co-hosted by BICT and the Batumi Sea Port Ltd (BSPL).
BICT's current annual capacity sits at 150,000 TEU. Its 284-metre long container berth is equipped with two mobile harbour cranes averaging 35 moves per hour. The terminal has a 14-hectare yard area, 625 square metres of which houses the customs warehouse.
BICT is looking to raise its annual capacity to 200,000 TEU by adding another 100-tonne capacity mobile harbour crane, doubling the number of reach stackers to eight, increasing its empty handlers to four, and deepening its berthing depth to 12 metres.
In addition, 800 kilometres of road network and rail construction projects, estimated at around US$3.5 billion, are currently in place in Georgia.
"With these road construction projects and terminal equipment acquisitions, we feel it can help us serve our clients better and be able to grow and expand our business in Georgia," added Mr Gulmann.