Silk Road Digest | September 6–13, 2026

2026-09-13

Anatolia-Georgia Businessmen’s Association

ANAGİD is presented as a new platform aimed at strengthening business ties between Turkey and Georgia and creating new trade and investment opportunities. The initiative builds upon the close economic relations existing between the two countries and encompasses cooperation in the fields of trade, investment, transport, energy, tourism, and regional logistics. Particular importance is attached to transport links between Georgia and Turkey—including the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway—while the focus for 2026 is placed even more strongly on economic integration, regional connectivity, and the deepening of direct business-to-business relationships.

Georgia International Maritime Forum

The International Maritime Forum was held in Batumi on September 7–8, serving to reinforce Georgia’s status as a maritime nation, showcase the potential of the "Middle Corridor," and foster the development of regional transport connections. The forum on maritime and logistics issues is a key regional discussion platform, bringing together over 300 delegates from dozens of countries this year.

Cargo Backlogs at Ports

According to Paata Tsagareishvili, head of the Transport Corridor Research Center:

The cargo was loaded on August 13 and remains in Azerbaijan. It could take anywhere from a month and a half to two months for the shipment to reach its final destination in Uzbekistan. One cited reason for the delay is the prioritization of Azerbaijani cargo—particularly following the rerouting of shipments from Iran. He assesses that such prolonged delays undermine the competitiveness of the Middle Corridor and could lead cargo owners to abandon this route in the future.

Tsagareishvili also addresses the issue of unofficial fees. Infrastructure is not the only challenge facing the Middle Corridor; cargo backlogs at ports, prioritization issues, and bureaucratic or unofficial costs significantly delay transit.

Japanese Investments in Georgia

According to Ichiro Aisawa, Chairman of the Japan-Georgia Parliamentary Friendship Group, significant opportunities exist to deepen economic relations between the two countries. He emphasized the importance of increasing both Japanese investments in Georgia and bilateral trade turnover. Aisawa noted that Georgia offers a business-friendly environment, while the Japan-Georgia Chamber of Commerce and Industry plays a vital role in strengthening economic ties.

European Cargo in the Middle Corridor

Azerbaijan Railways is working to attract cargo moving from Europe toward the East via the "Middle Corridor." According to the Azerbaijani side, a key challenge for the corridor is increasing return cargo flows—specifically, shipments moving from West to East. To this end, ADY is strengthening cooperation with European partners to boost shipment volumes and enhance the competitiveness of the "Middle Corridor."

Expansion of Poti Port

Negotiations between APM Terminals and the Ministry of Economy of Georgia regarding the Poti Port expansion project are scheduled to resume by the end of the year. The project aims to increase the port's throughput capacity and strengthen Georgia's transit potential. Concurrently, APM Terminals is making additional investments in port infrastructure, which will raise throughput capacity to 650,000 TEU by year-end. Further expansion of the port is planned through private investment; its implementation will be a significant factor in enhancing Georgia's competitiveness along the Middle Corridor.

Armenia-Turkey Border

At an Armenian-Turkish business forum held in Yerevan, business representatives from both countries urged their respective governments to open the land border between Armenia and Turkey and to simplify border-crossing procedures, noting that this would foster the development of trade, investment, tourism, and regional economic ties. However, according to political analyst Robert Ghevondian, the primary obstacle to opening the border is political—specifically, Azerbaijan's influence on Turkey. According to him, opening the border could lead to significant economic progress, although the exact timeframe remains unknown at this stage.

Tbilisi Finance Summit

On October 27–28, the second "Tbilisi Finance Summit" will be held in Georgia, jointly organized by the National Bank of Georgia, the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development, and Singapore’s Global Financial and Technology Network (GFTN). See link: tbilisifinancesummit.gftn.co/register

109% Increase in Georgia's Transit Cargo

Between 2018 and 2025, the volume of transit cargo passing through Georgian territory increased by 109%. This is noted in a report by the PMC Research Center. The highest cargo volume was recorded in 2024, reaching 15.1 million tons, while in 2025, the volume decreased by 9.5% to 13.7 million tons. The primary reason for this decline was a 7.8% drop in cargo turnover along the East-West corridor. This route accounts for approximately 70% of Georgia's transit cargo.

In 2025, 4.6 million tons of cargo were transported via the Middle Corridor, a 5% decrease compared to the previous year. The decline was primarily observed on routes connecting the EU with Azerbaijan and Central Asia.

Road transport accounted for 55% of transit shipments, while rail transport accounted for 45%. Between 2018 and 2025, road transit increased by 124.7% and rail transit by 93.2%. Despite the decline in 2025, the long-term growth in cargo volumes indicates a strengthening of Georgia's role as a transit hub.

Georgian Civil Aviation Agency

The Agency states that the country fully complies with international sanctions, including those affecting the aviation sector. When authorizing foreign airlines, the Agency takes into account EU and US sanctions mechanisms as well as OFAC sanctions lists. Accordingly, regarding airlines sanctioned by the US that operate flights between Georgia and Iran, Georgia will act in accordance with international sanctions requirements. Cargo shipments from Russia to Armenia

To date, the following volumes have been transported in transit from Russia to Armenia via Azerbaijan:

● 60,000 tons of grain (from November 2025 to September 10, 2026);

● Over 9,000 tons of fertilizer;

● 1,414 tons of propane;

● 133 tons of aluminum;

● 1,114 tons of coal;

● 608 tons of timber.

Cargo turnover in the Middle Corridor

According to data from Kazakhstan Railways, cargo turnover in the "Middle Corridor" increased by 22% between January and August 2026, while transit in the East-West direction grew by 55%. Container shipments alone totaled 36,000 TEU from January to July—a 50% increase compared to the same period in 2025; 350 container trains traversed the route during this period, up from 192 in 2025.

Georgia's top investor

With $236 million in foreign direct investment (FDI) recorded in the first six months of 2026, China is Georgia's leading investor country. During the reporting period, the largest share of Chinese FDI was directed into the financial and insurance sectors. The sharp rise in Chinese investment in the financial sector is linked to the acquisition of Liberty Bank by Basisbank—part of the Chinese Hualing Group holding—in the spring of this year.

ADY Expands Ties with China

Azerbaijan Railways (ADY) plans to expand cooperation with leading Chinese ports and technology companies to increase cargo flows via the Middle Corridor and strengthen the China–Azerbaijan–Europe link. Discussions focused on expanding regular container shipments from Shanghai to Europe, developing the Lianyungang–Baku route, and increasing the frequency of block trains. Attention was also paid to the digital transformation of port and railway operations and "smart port" technologies, aimed at improving transit times and logistics processes. Passenger Transport on the Caspian Sea

Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan are resuming regular passenger ferry services between the ports of Aktau and Baku; this move is set to strengthen tourism ties and increase travel across the Caspian Sea. The initiative is also linked to the development of the Middle Corridor, which connects Central Asia with the South Caucasus and European markets. Operations on this route had been suspended in 2020 due to the pandemic.

Armenia-Czech Republic Cooperation

Armenia and the Czech Republic are working to deepen cooperation in the transport, energy, and industrial sectors. Among other initiatives, the parties are exploring the possibility of using Czech equipment for the construction of a new metro station in Armenia, while also planning to expand existing agreements and identify new projects. According to the President of Armenia, particular emphasis is being placed on strengthening trade and economic ties with EU nations, diversifying markets, and fostering direct cooperation between businesses. Anaklia Port to Connect to Railway

Georgian Railway will construct a brand-new, 18-kilometer electrified railway line and a new railway station to provide access to the Anaklia deep-sea port. The tender for the project will be announced in accordance with World Bank regulations, and the new infrastructure will connect the Anaklia port to Georgia's existing railway network.

The Need for New Warehouses

According to Mamuka Murjikneli, CEO of Wondernet, the development of the Middle Corridor necessitates the creation of new warehouse infrastructure at Georgia's ports. He noted that due to increased cargo turnover, existing facilities can no longer accommodate certain types of cargo; therefore, the integrated development of ports, railways, and other logistics infrastructure is essential.

New Energy Corridors

Azerbaijan and Turkey plan to expand their long-standing strategic cooperation in the energy sector. In addition to oil and gas projects, renewable energy and electricity exports are being considered as new areas of partnership. The development of existing infrastructure has enhanced the capacity of the Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey energy bridge, creating opportunities for electricity exchange with European markets via the Turkish grid.

Efforts to harness solar and wind energy potential in Armenia are underway—particularly in the Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur regions—where the implementation of new projects is rapidly expanding. Nakhchivan is being considered as a potential route for green energy exports. Plans are in place to develop power transmission lines and substations, which will facilitate connecting Azerbaijan’s energy system with Nakhchivan and transmitting green energy toward Turkey. Under the energy component of TRIPP, the creation of new infrastructure passing through Armenia’s Syunik region is envisaged, while the construction of the 1,000-megawatt Jabrayil–Aghband transmission line is nearing completion.

In parallel, Turkey and Azerbaijan are developing a new electricity interconnection project informally dubbed "Electric TANAP." The project aims to link the power systems of Turkey, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Bulgaria and to foster regional trade in green electricity. The agreement is scheduled to be signed during COP31.

TRACECA.GE