AD Ports Group signed a purchase agreement with Inveco LLC to acquire 60 percent ownership in the Tbilisi Dry Port, a new custom-bonded and rail-connected intermodal logistics hub in Georgia.
As part of the agreement, AD Ports Group will initially invest AED61 million ($16.6 million) in the project, which is expected to be operational by Q4 2024.
The project, currently owned by Inveco LLC and Wilhelmsen, is a key logistics hub situated along the strategically important Middle Corridor — an emerging trade lane linking manufacturing hubs in Western Asia to consumer markets in Eastern Europe by leveraging a combination of sea and dry ports located in Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, and Türkiye.
Multiple facilities
The project consists of different integrated facilities such as a container freight station, warehouses and a car storage park. It will act as the point of entry and exit as well as a regional transit point for manufacturers, shippers and consignees moving containers, vehicles and other goods for distribution and storage. The project offers direct westward railway links to Türkiye and to Georgian Ports of Poti and Batumi, which further connect to European Black Sea ports in Bulgaria and Romania, while its eastern connectivity links with different ports located along the Caspian Sea via a railway corridor to Azerbaijan.
Read: AD Ports Group reports $370.28 million in net profit for 2023
The development offers significant intermodal logistics capabilities given its location within the Tbilisi airport’s industrial zone, which will be backed by state-of-the-art warehousing facilities as well as a cargo and vehicle logistics hub.
Phase-wise approach
The project consists of two land parcels and will be developed in phases. To future-proof the project, an additional 88,000 sqm of land is available to cater for further volume growth.
The project will be completed in three phases. By the end of the initial phase, the handling capacity is expected to reach 96,500 TEUs, with 10,000 sqm of warehouse and a car storage yard. Upon the completion of phase three, the project will have a handling capacity of 286,000 TEU, 100,000 sqm of warehouse and a significantly expanded car storage yard. Further land plots have already been secured and can be developed as and when needed.
Noatum Logistics, part of the AD Ports Group, will operate and manage the facilities.
Building on CEPA
Ahmed bin Ali Al Sayegh, minister of state, ministry of foreign affairs, said: “In October 2023, the UAE and Georgia signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which aims to increase the bilateral non-oil trade between our two nations to AED5.5 billion in five years, while accelerating economic recovery and securing vital supply chains. AD Ports Group’s investment in the Tbilisi Dry Port delivers on this objective, which is set to deepen trade and investment ties, develop global trade lanes, and generate market access opportunities for UAE and Georgian businesses alike.”
Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, managing director and group CEO, AD Ports Group, said: “By investing in, and operating, new strategic infrastructure and logistics hubs along the Caspian Sea – Black Sea Corridor, AD Ports Group is delivering on our strategy to strengthen global supply chains. As a country situated at the centre of the Caucasus and located along the Black Sea, Georgia is a key destination linking us with our growing maritime and logistics assets in Central Asia and Türkiye, thereby enabling us to serve our customers with cost-effective, streamlined cargo flows and capture significant future trade volumes.”
The Middle Corridor is regarded as the shortest trade route between Asia and Europe, covering approximately 7,000 km and requiring a journey of 10 to 15 days. The existing Northern Corridor covers about 10,000 km overland, requiring 15 to 20 days, while the Southern Ocean Route spans approximately 20,000 km, requiring a sea voyage of 45-60 days. The Middle Corridor is expected to serve considerable growth in container volumes, which has the potential to reach 1.9 million TEUs by 2040.
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