Infrastructure Minister says Anaklia Consortium faced problems before TBC case
Minister of Infrastructure Maia Tskitishvili says that the government has fulfilled its obligations towards the Anaklia deep sea port project. Photo: Ministry of Infrastructure press office.
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Georgian Infrastructure Minister Maia Tskitishvili says that there is no connection between the Anaklia deep sea port project and the ongoing money laundering investigation involving the founders of TBC Bank.
She says that Anaklia Consortium, which won the state tender to construct the port and signed a deal with the government in 2016 with TBC Holding as its principal partner, had faced problems in attracting funds for the 2.5 billion USD project before the investigation was launched.
Several opposition members and one of the TBC Bank founders, Mamuka Khazaradze, stated that the reason behind the “absurd” investigation may be the wish of Bidzina Ivanishvili [founder of the Georgian Dream ruling party] to create problems for the “very port of international importance irritating Russia”.
Khazaradze claims that the ongoing investigation affeted the Anaklia project. Photo: Anaklia Development Consortium.
Tskitishvili said that Anaklia Consortium is not only TBC Holding and that it unites four investors – American Conti International among them.
Problems in the implementation of the project started in 2017. The consortium was supposed to have attracted 600 million USD investments by the end of 2017. However, as it failed to do so, the process was postponed until December 31, 2018. In 2018 the obligation was once again postponed for six months,” Tskitishvili said.
She stated that it was announced from the very beginning that the government did not intend to invest in the project and wanted a private company to build it.
The government obligation towards the project was to provide railway and transport infrastructure to the port and to also help acquire lands worth 60 million GEL [22 million USD]. The lands have been handed to the consortium and the obligations have been fulfilled,” Tskitishvili said.
Tskitishvili claims that the government is interested in the construction of the port in Anaklia and its attitude to Anaklia consortium has proven this.
Khazaradze said in his interview with Kviris Palitra that the government “has spent zero lari” on the project and that the delay in the arrangement of infrastructure creates problems for the construction of the port.
Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze says that statements [by the opposition and others] that the Georgian Dream government does not want the Anaklia deep sea port to be constructed are “cheap and irresponsible political speculations."
The Georgian Prosecutor’s Office has published the letter claimed by TBC Bank founder Mamuka Khazaradze to contain threats from Interior Minister Giorgi Gakharia.
The Georgian Chief Prosecutor’s Office has dismissed a statement made yesterday by TBC Bank founder Mamuka Khazaradze that he had informed prosecutors regarding the“threatening letter” he received from Interior Minister Giorgi Gakharia ahead of the second round of Georgian presidential elections in November 2018.
Co-founder of TBC Bank Mamuka Khazaradze has demanded the resignation of the head of the National Bank of Georgia Koba Gvenetadze and the creation of an investigation commission regarding the money-laundering case involving top former TBC bankers.
Georgian Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure Maya Tskitishvili says international financial institutions have eight demands that should be fulfilled in order to invest in the project. Tskitishvili said that the investors demand a feasibility study of each phase and say that the port development should not be linked to any specific date and should start only after the feasibility study is done.
Georgian Interior Minister Giorgi Gakharia claims that a cyber-attack on the leading Georgian bank TBC was identified and responded to several weeks before the address of bank officials.
The Anaklia Development Consortium has published a statement responding to yesterday’s speech of the Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development Maya Tskitishvili in parliament, where she said that investors in the project have eight demands before moving forward.
Anaklia Deep Sea Port project has once again become the topic of discussion, the main question now being whether the Georgian government is considering backing out of an agreement signed with the Anaklia Development Consortium in 2016.
What issues remain unsolved between state, financial institutions?
Representatives of the Georgian government, the Anaklia Development Consortium and international finance organisations (EBRD, OPIC, ADB, AIIB) met today to discuss the details of the Anaklia Deep Sea Water project development.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gregory Karasin says that the “tone used” towards Russia by US State Secretary Mike Pompeo during his meeting with Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze “is not something that is in Russian interests.”
Georgian Minister of Infrastructure Maia Tskitishvili has spoken about the importance of the Anaklia deep sea port, which aims to help establish the shortest route between Europe and Asia, at the ongoing 16th Batumi International Conference. She said that the government is doing all it can to support the private consortium which has the responsibility of attracting funds for the construction of the port.
Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze says that the government has increased funding of infrastructure projects by 20 per cent in 2019, which is the “highest figure” in the history of independent Georgia. Bakhtadze vowed that by 2022 Georgia will have “very modern infrastructure,” which will allow the government to further develop the economy and overcome poverty.
The Georgian Minister for Regional Development and Infrastructure Maia Tskitishvili says that although the Anaklia port is a “fully private project” the state contribution is “still high”. Tskitishvili says that overall the state has invested $250 million in the project, due to the importance of the Anaklia port for the country’s infrastructure.
2,440 households of internally displaced people (IDP) will be provided with housing in Zugdidi, Kutaisi and Tskaltubo in 2019-2020, announced the candidate for the Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure Maia Tskitishvili earlier today in parliament.
One of Georgia’s top bankers, Mamuka Khazaradze, who has recently been charged in a high-profile money laundering case, has officially launched a new civic movement in Georgia’s coastal town of Anaklia, located near the Russian-occupied region of Abkhazia.
The founder of one of Georgia’s leading banks TBC Mamuka Khazaradze, who faces money laundering charges, says that his return to business is “very unlikely,” as he has “big political goals.”