BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 8
By Maryana Akhmedova – Trend:
Georgia’s Poti Free Industrial Zone (FIZ) has carried out renovation work due to which it was possible to increase the freight turnover of the railway and the acceptance of the oversized cargo, David Ebralidze, the CEO of FIZ, told Trend.
“Poti FIZ has carried out infrastructural work, in particular, the expansion of the railway-customs terminal, the coverage of which has been completely replaced with fibrous concrete. The main customs terminal was also repaired with a fiber-reinforced concrete coating. We also carried out the maintenance of internal roads and drainage system,” Ebralidze said.
According to the CEO, the most important projects in 2021 for Poti FIZ were engaged in the textile production, which is one of the leading sectors in the FIZ.
Among them, one of the important initiatives was the project on textile production, the raw materials for which are mainly imported from China, and the final products are exported mainly to Poland and other EU countries. At this stage, the company employs 35 local residents.The total investment cost of the project was about 1.5 million Georgian lari ($517,241).
Another project launched in Poti FIZ n 2021 was also involved with textile production. Today, the number of employees is up to 30 local residents with the potential to increase to 40. Ready product is exported to Ukraine, Russia, USA, EU, and Australia. The estimated cost of the investment was $130,000.
According to David Ebralidze, in total, Poti FIZ plans to invest 26 million Georgian lari ($8.9 million) and employ about 500 local residents in two years (2021 and 2022).
Further speaking, the CEO noted that Poti FIZ directly borders the Poti Port, the main crossroads between Asia and Europe, which determines the strategic position of the FIZ in the region.
“Sustainable infrastructure development, the construction of a new deep-water port, and an increase in the number of flights are necessary prerequisites for the creation of an international transit and logistics hub,” Ebralidze said.
Meanwhile, Poti FIZ became the first industrial zone established in the Caucasus and has already become one of the most important platforms and links in the supply chain in the region.
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