Page 56 - GEORptOct22

Trans-Caspian International Transport Route considers JV for simplifying cargo flow
Georgia raises truck transit fees by 75%
The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) International Association has presented a concept for a joint venture (JV) with the participating state bodies of TITR member states, secretary-general of the association Gaidar Abdikerimov told Trend news agency.
The TITR is gaining importance as trade through its member states is growing amid the necessity for more trade route volume that bypasses heavily sanctioned Russia.
Abdikerimov said Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan and Turkey were currently considering the JV concept, which sets out to simplify the process of cargo flow management, as well as expand the possibility of attracting additional cargo volumes to the corridor.
“After the mutual agreement between the parties is reached, we can expect a full-fledged launch and operation of the joint venture. The process of forming a joint venture has already begun and we hope to launch it soon, as there is great interest in the TITR from international carriers,” he said.
The fee for transit on the roads of Georgia for trucks will increase by 75% from June 20, from GEL200 ($68) to GEL350 ($119), the press service of the Georgian government reported. Government also adopted a corresponding resolution.
According to the current rules, only those vehicles that transport cargo from the territory of the seaport to the nearest customs control zone within a radius of 10 km or in the opposite direction are exempt from paying the fee. In the first quarter of 2022, the number of transit trucks through Georgia exceeded 116,000, and budget revenues amounted to GEL23.2mn (~$8mn).
9.1.3 Aviation sector news
Georgia’s Kutaisi airport returns to pre-pandemic numbers
Tbilisi Airport to receive larger aircraft following building of additional lane
Air passenger traffic at Georgia's second most active airport, Kutaisi International Airport (KUT), grew by 11% in July compared to the same month in the pre-pandemic year 2019, the United Airports of Georgia reported. In July, the airport served 93,919 passengers, compared to 84,728 passengers in July 2019.
Kutaisi International Airport has a positive trend in increasing the number of flights. In July, the number of flights at the airport amounted to 330, increasing by 24%. The number of flights in July 2019 was 267.
Currently, four airlines are conducting flights at Kutaisi International Airport to 28 directions in 17 countries. On August 1, Wizz Air returned the second aircraft based at Kutaisi Airport and resumed flights to Tallinn and Paris. Wizz Air has also increased the frequency to 10 existing destinations.
Tbilisi International Airport will be able to handle larger aircraft after an upgrade that includes the construction of an additional lane and a taxi yard, the Georgian Ministry of Economy said on 5 May.
The upgrades will increase the capacity and safety of the airport's runway and reduce aircraft takeoff and manoeuvre times, as well as other upgrades related to the modern signalling system required for the "full and proper" functioning of the airport and its runways. The airport currently has six runways.
Georgian Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili said the new runway will accommodate large aircraft used to carry cargo, pointing to a "growing flow" of cargo at the airport. He also added that investors are showing an increased interest in developing cargo capacity in the country, saying that Tbilisi Airport can "play the role of a cargo hub" in this effort.
56 GEORGIA Country Report October 2022 www.intellinews.com