(MENAFN- Trend News Agency)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 15
By Maryana Akhmedova – Trend:
The number of Azerbaijani companies is almost a quarter of the
total number of companies registered in Poti FIZ, David Ebralidze,
the CEO of Georgia's Poti free industrial zone (FIZ), told Trend .
He said Azerbaijani investors play a particularly important role
in the development of Poti FIZ.
Ebralidze noted that most of the Azerbaijani companies at the
Poti FIZ are engaged in the trade sector, in particular, those are
the exporters of pharmaceuticals, of which almost half,
agricultural machinery, electrical equipment, car parts and
tires.
Among the Azerbaijani enterprises at Poti FIZ Ebralidze noted a
metal tile production plant that has been operating there since
2015. The company became one of the largest suppliers of
construction products to the Azerbaijani market immediately after
the production launch, he said.
Another Azerbaijani industrial project at the FIZ was launched
in 2021 and is engaged in food production. The enterprise plans to
export its products to Asian countries and the US.
According to Ebralidze, one of the largest Azerbaijani companies
plans to develop in several directions at the Poti FIZ. One of them
is a warehouse, due to the fact that there is a constant demand for
both storage facilities and ready-made production buildings at the
FIZ.
'The company is also interested in construction of
lubricant-manufacturing plant,” Ebralidze said.
“At this stage, we are conducting appropriate preliminary
investigation procedures related to obtaining a certificate of
origin, since the product must be exported to the EU countries with
which Georgia has a free trade agreement,” he noted.“We are
currently negotiating with Azerbaijani investors, but usually the
development of industrial projects takes a lot of time and we will
see the results later.”
Ebralidze also noted that the trilateral business forum held in
December 2021 became a very important event in the post COVID-19
pandemic period.
“Azerbaijan-Turkey-Georgia business forum provided us the
opportunity to meet face-to-face with the representatives of the
business circles of Azerbaijan and Turkey,” he said.
Further speaking, the CEO noted that the 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.
“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.
Speaking about the developments at the FIZ over the past year,
the CEO noted that the most important projects in 2021 were engaged
in the textile production, which is one of the leading sectors at
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 in 2021 was related to
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, the US, the EU, and Australia. The
estimated cost of the investment was $130,000.
Ebralidze 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.
He then spoke about a number of new projects in different
sectors will be implemented at the Poti FIZ in 2022.
Ebralidze mentioned several initiatives to be launched in 2022,
among which a project in the textile sector, one of the leading
sectors in the FIZ, will be developed. The enterprise of 6,500
square meters territory will employ about 500 people. The exports
here will be oriented towards the EU and CIS countries. The initial
amount of the investments is 15 million Georgian lari ($5.1
million).
“At this stage, the building is being renovated, after which the
equipment will be delivered and installed. As for the direct
release of the production process, it is scheduled for February
2022,” the CEO noted.
Another important initiative of the current year for Poti FIZ is
the car parts production facility on a 5,000 square meter land
plot. The plant will be built by SDT Georgia LLC, a joint
China-Italy venture. The components will be produced from Georgian
and foreign raw materials and exported to EU countries, China, the
US, and Mexico.
“At the first stage, up to 60 residents will work at the plant,
and next year their number will increase to 100 people. The
construction of the plant is carried out with Italian-Chinese
investments with the estimated investment volume of 10 million
Georgian lari ($3.4 million),” Ebralidze said.
Poti FIZ also eyes to equip the copper and non-ferrous metals
terminal at the beginning of 2022. The investment cost of the
project is $1 million, the CEO said.
“Both local raw materials and raw materials from Central Asia
and Latin America will be imported, while exports will be carried
out to African and Asian countries. Concentrates will be
imported/exported both by sea and by rail. Also, about 20 local
employees will work at the terminal,” he added.
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).
The 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.
---
Follow the author on Twitter: @mariiiakhm
MENAFN15022022000187011040ID1103697983