Georgia’s non-governmental organization Civic IDEA has criticized the government’s decision to shift the Anaklia Deep Sea Port project to a so-called “landlord port” model, arguing that the move removes the project from the investment market and transfers major financial risks from private investors to the state budget. The organization, founded by former Defense Minister Tina Khidasheli, claims the change raises questions over whether the port will ultimately be completed and warns that the new approach could undermine the project’s strategic and economic goals.
Under the new model announced by the government, the state will become the 100% owner of the port’s core infrastructure, while international companies will participate only as terminal operators through long-term lease agreements. According to Civic IDEA, this means the government will now be responsible for financing and managing key infrastructure, including additional facilities that were previously expected to be developed by a private investor. The organization highlights that the state will need to mobilize an additional $200 million, while the source of this financing has not yet been disclosed.
Civic IDEA also raises concerns about the loss of private sector expertise, guaranteed cargo flows, and operational experience that a strategic port investor could have brought to Anaklia. The organization argues that changing the model after previous tenders and investment attempts may weaken investor confidence, while the cancellation of competitive selection processes could increase transparency and corruption risks in future construction and procurement contracts.
The organization says it will closely monitor the sources of financing for the additional $200 million, the selection of construction contractors, the process of choosing terminal operators, and the possible involvement of Chinese companies linked to the previous investor consortium. Civic IDEA argues that while the landlord port model is widely used internationally, its success depends on strong institutions, transparent concession procedures, and clear separation between state ownership, regulation, and commercial management.
