Georgia has announced that a Chinese group is the only bidder to construct a large deep-sea port in Anaklia, highlighting Tbilisi's growing ties with Beijing.

While other groups, such as a Swiss-Luxembourg pairing, showed interest, only the Chinese consortium, involving China Communications Construction Company Limited and China Harbour Investment, submitted a complete bid with the necessary guarantees, Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili said at a press conference on May 29. 

The port construction will involve subcontractors such as China Road and Bridge Corporation and Qingdao Port International Co.

This decision concludes a contentious process. Previously, a Georgian-American consortium's attempt to build the port was scrapped in 2020. The Georgian government revived the project in 2022, seeking bids and retaining a 51% stake in the port.

The Anaklia port is pivotal for Georgia, situated on the eastern edge of the Black Sea, facilitating the Middle Corridor trade route between China and Europe, bypassing Russia. The project's significance had attracted both EU-based and Chinese companies.

Georgia's focus on enhancing connectivity has led it to seek Chinese investment in infrastructure. Reports suggest that since 2021, Chinese companies have been involved in every infrastructure project worth over $100mn.

The lack of adequate infrastructure has hindered Georgia's transit potential, causing congestion at borders and ports. Without a deep-sea port, experts warn that Georgia and the Middle Corridor won't be competitive as global trade routes.