Kazakhstan and Georgia are working to expand the capacity of the Middle Corridor to 10 million tons of cargo annually by 2027, as discussed during an official meeting between Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov and his Georgian counterpart, Irakli Kobakhidze, in Kazakhstan.
The talks focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation across various sectors, including trade, transport and logistics, agriculture, digital technologies, and tourism. Prime Minister Bektenov underscored that Kazakhstan’s President, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, prioritizes deepening ties with Georgia and emphasized the importance of continuous dialogue to diversify trade relations.
A central topic of discussion was the enhancement of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR). Both sides agreed on the need for infrastructure upgrades, increased transport capacity, and improved tariff conditions to boost cargo volumes. Kazakhstan is also investing in Georgia’s infrastructure, including the construction of a new multimodal terminal at the port of Poti.
Kazakhstan’s exports to Georgia are experiencing steady growth, with over $66 million worth of petrochemical, metallurgical, food, chemical, and mechanical engineering products currently being promoted in the Georgian market. Trade expansion efforts are being pursued under the 2023-2026 Roadmap.
Prime Minister Bektenov highlighted that transport along the TITR surged by 62% in the past year, reaching 4.5 million tons. To further optimize the corridor and eliminate bottlenecks, Kazakhstan is enhancing infrastructure, expanding port and terminal capacities, increasing rolling stock, and addressing administrative barriers to facilitate smoother logistics.
Oil transportation was also a key topic, with 1.4 million tons of Kazakh oil shipped via the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline in 2024, with plans to increase this volume to 2.2 million tons annually.
In the agricultural sector, trade turnover between the two countries rose by 12.3% to $71.2 million in 2024. Kazakhstan is looking to expand its agricultural exports to Georgia, including flour, grain, vegetable oils, pasta, and dairy products.
Prime Minister Kobakhidze reiterated Georgia’s commitment to further strengthening bilateral relations, recognizing the achievements made and the potential for deeper economic and cultural ties.
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