Officials during the signing ceremony | Courtesy: AD Ports Group
AD Ports Group, a leading facilitator of global trade, logistics, and industry, has signed a purchase agreement with Inveco to acquire 60 percent ownership in the Tbilisi Dry Port, a new custom-bonded and rail-connected intermodal logistics hub in Georgia.
The project, currently owned by Inveco and Wilhelmsen, is expected to be operational by the fourth quarter of 2024. It 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 Turkey.
His Excellency Ahmed bin Ali Al Sayegh, Minister of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of the UAE, said that, “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.”
Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi MD & Group CEO AD Ports
“AD Ports Group is committed to strategic international investments that advance economic growth, job creation, and mutual benefit in line with our wise leaders’ vision. 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 center 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 Turkey, thereby enabling us to serve our customers with cost-effective, streamlined cargo flows and capture significant future trade volumes.”
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, according to the statement.
Noatum Logistics, part of the AD Ports Group, will operate and manage the facilities while leveraging capabilities offered by the Group’s cross-cluster portfolio and drawing on the expertise and capacities of Inveco and Wilhelmsen.
Jemal Inaishvili, Founder of Inveco, Georgia, stated that, “I am delighted that negotiations with AD Ports Group ended successfully. AD Ports Group’s participation as a significant facilitator of global trade and logistics will play a key role in the development and success of the Tbilisi Dry Port. AD Ports Group’s vast expertise in ports operations and logistics facilities will bring a new level of management to Georgia’s logistics sector. I am also very glad that by this partnership we are contributing to growing economic cooperation between the United Arab Emirates and Georgia.”
“Georgia has been an important market to us for a long time already. The development of the Tbilisi Dry Port has been a cornerstone project to support the development of the trade corridor between the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea. We are excited to have AD Ports Group come in as majority shareholder with their wealth of experience in port and terminal operations,” commended Neal de Roche, President of Wilhelmsen Port Services.
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