22.09.23
📍 "The main postulate in the implementation of the port construction project in Anaklia should be obtaining the maximum and stable profit for the state for many years, and there should be no politics here."
This was stated by the chairman of the parliamentary political group "European Socialists" Fridon Indzhiya at the plenary session of the Parliament, where the Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia Levana Davitashvili was heard as part of the interpellation on the issue of the construction of the Anaklia port.
🔷 The head of "European Socialists" positively evaluated the decision of the government, adopted a few months ago, according to which the state acquired a control package of a number of strategic objects, including the port of Anaklia.
🔷 I can't say exactly why the construction of the port of Anaklia was delayed in previous years, but I consider the government's decision to become the owner of a control package of objects of strategic importance a great achievement.
🔷 This means the state's participation in the country's strategic infrastructure. Finally, the state decided to acquire controlling stakes in such a strategic infrastructure as Hudonskaya ГЕС or another, including the port of Anaklia. This is the greatest achievement.
🔷 Our party - "European Socialists" has been talking about this in almost every speech for almost three years.
🔷 I think that when implementing the project in Anaklia, a clear task and the main postulate should be the maximum and stable profit of the state for many years, and there should be no politics here," the deputy emphasized.
🔷 At the same time, he believes that minimization of operational costs should be taken into account in the project.
🔷 "If, for example, the Chinese company won the tender, I don't see any problems here. It is very important that the Georgian government has concluded an agreement on strategic partnership with China, because for many years the path to Chinese investments in Georgia has been closed. There was no political will for it. I don't know where this will came from, but it's very important. In practice, Chinese and Iranian investments in Georgia were prohibited.
🔷 If we proceed from the interests of the country, and we want to improve the living conditions of our population and raise the standard of living, then the government should do everything to attract and implement these investments. In this case, the population will not leave their families to earn money abroad, and on the contrary, the emigrants will return to their homeland.
🔷 That's why you should boldly be guided by the first postulate, which I outlined at the beginning of the speech - getting the maximum and stable profit for the state from this project", the deputy emphasized.
🔷 Fridon Indzhiya also believes that an important role in the implementation of the project will be played by the increase in cargo turnover in the seaports of Georgia.
🔷 "When building the port of Anaklia, we should think about increasing the cargo turnover. Therefore, it is desirable that the company, which will own 49% controlling stake, was involved in hauling cargo. And if it will be managed by a Swiss or Austrian company, they will not be able to load the port as much as possible. But, for example, if there will be a Chinese side, a Kazakh side or another Asian side, then this will allow us to increase the cargo turnover, otherwise there will be empty costs", - noted the deputy.
🔷 Another important factor in attracting cargo to Georgian seaports was Fridon Indzhiya, who called the smooth operation of the transport infrastructure, and first of all, the railway.