Oil, Trade, and Olives: What the Prime Ministers of Kazakhstan and Georgia Discussed in Astana

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze made his first official visit to Kazakhstan since taking office in February 2024, meeting with Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov in Astana, Orda.kz reports.

Kobakhidze arrived in Astana on February 5 and met with Kazakhstan PM Olzhas Bektenov. The primary focus of the discussion was economic partnership, especially the Middle Corridor.

Thanks to the close cooperation between the railways of Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan, the Middle Corridor project has been successfully implemented. This route now facilitates rail container transportation between China and Europe. Moving forward, we must intensify efforts to develop the corridor and attract additional cargo. Georgia has the potential to become a key link between Europe, the Middle East, South Asia, and Central and East Asia,  Kobakhidze stated, according to the Georgian government’s press service.

The Georgian Prime Minister highlighted his country’s low tax rates and favorable investment climate, but his government did not mention any implemented investment projects.

Kazakhstan’s government provided more details.

This year, a new multimodal terminal is set to open in the Georgian port of Poti. The project is being developed by a Kazakhstan transport and logistics investment group,the Kazakhstan government said in a statement.

The Prime Ministers also discussed Kazakhstan's oil exports to Europe via Georgia.

Last year, 1.4 million tons of Kazakh oil were transported via the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline. The goal is to gradually increase shipments to 2.2 million tons per year,Kazakhstan officials stated. 

Beyond energy and infrastructure, agriculture was also on the agenda.

The topic included Georgian olives, cultivated in Kazakhstan and expected to yield a harvest within five years.

Irakli Kobakhidze's visit comes amid ongoing mass protests in Georgia, where citizens have been demonstrating for over two months against the policies of the ruling Georgian Dream party.

Original Author: Igor Ulitin