Well-known Kazakh media publications “Elitar.kz” and “Kazakh. Inform” published an interview with Mamuka Murjikneli, General Director of Batumi Multimodal Terminal, which refers to the development of the Middle Corridor. As the journalist notes, the Batumi Multimodal Terminal is one of the most important on the road connecting Asia and Europe and is considered a strategic factor, and the proof of this is cited by the visit of the Prime Minister of Uzbekistan to the Multimodal Terminal in Batumi, as well as the fact that the terminal was created and functions with the synergy of Asian-American-Georgian partnership and cooperation.
- The interview's translation is provided by Europetime.
The new geopolitical conditions in the region have changed many things and made the role of transit countries even more prominent and important. In this context, the role of Kazakhstan is very important.
During the visit of the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Alikhan Ismailov to Georgia, one of the main topics was the importance and role of the Trans-Caspian international transport route. During a meeting with his colleague, the Prime Minister, the deepening of strategic cooperation between the two countries was emphasized, and especially the importance of the “Middle Corridor” initiative, which includes Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan and which is aimed at increasing the attractiveness of this route for cargo transportation.
The corridor will connect Central Asia, China and other Asian countries to Europe. A five-year road map has been developed outlining the responsibilities of each country until 2027.
Considering all this, we think that our readers will be interested in an interview with Mr. Mamuka Murdzhiknel, General Director of the Batumi Multimodal Terminal in Georgia.
Mr. Mamuka, if you can tell us a few words about the multimodal terminal, we know that the construction of the terminal did not stop even during the pandemic period and today it is already operating at full capacity. The necessity and purposefulness of these steps and the construction of the terminal as a whole, as can be seen from today’s point of view, was correctly seen, analyzed and assessed by your company.
First of all, thank you for the interview and interest. Our company Wondernet Express Investment Group started the construction of the Batumi multimodal terminal in 2018, completed it in 2021, and today the terminal is operating at full capacity.
The leading European design institutes and the world's largest suppliers of shipping and warehouse equipment took part in the development of the specified project.
The terminal is fully automated and includes conveyor belt systems and a ship loader. It is equipped with modern equipment necessary for reloading mineral fertilizers, the latest filtration technology, and the terminal will be able to process up to 1,500,000 tons of fertilizers per year. Our partner is the American, largest trading corporation Trammo. We represent a symbiosis of Georgian-Uzbek-American investments and interests, which is very important and has strategic importance today.
The main cargo we handle at this stage is urea, although our terminal's technical equipment and standards allow us to handle other mineral fertilizers as well.
Receiving cargo at our terminal is carried out in a completely closed premises, as well as its storage and subsequent transfer to the vessel. We have a belt conveyor system, which means that we automatically transfer the cargo from the wagon to the warehouse and from there load it directly onto the ship in a closed premises.
Mr. Mamuka, the importance of the Middle Corridor was emphasized in the interim report published by the EBRD, this factor and the importance of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route were once again emphasized during the visit of the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Mr. Alikham Ismailov, to Georgia. And a few months ago, during the official visit of the Prime Minister of Uzbekistan to Georgia, he personally visited your multimodal terminal in Batumi. If possible, tell us a few words about this and your plans for the future.
Thank you for this question, we are a private company, far from politics, but we think and understand our strategically important role and the role of companies like us.
We feel and fully understand our function, so we constantly care and are focused on development. Here I mean everything, for example, infrastructure development, personnel training, as well as the idea of expanding the terminal itself.
The visit of the prime minister of Uzbekistan to our terminal was really important and honorable for our company. This means that our hard work, responsibility and transparency do not go unnoticed, and we will definitely be considered one of the flagships when it comes to the middle corridor.
I think that today's situation in the region has shown even more the need for cooperation between our countries, this mutual cooperation is now strategically important, Kazakhstan is the most important country in this regard, as well as Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan.
There is extraordinary mutual respect and love among our people, as a former diplomat, or rather an ambassador who worked in Central Asia, I know this attitude well and am pleased with my current status and new opportunities that I can still be in touch with countries and people that are important and interesting to me, my Kazakhs, Uzbeks and Azerbaijanis. And together with our friends we can implement and develop important projects and plans in terms of logistics.
In this regard, the Batumi multimodal terminal is a new window at the Transcaucasian logistics crossroads, which begins in Central Asia, including Kazakhstan.
As I already told you, I had the honor to work and represent my country as an ambassador to Central Asia. Over these years, I have had many good friends in these countries, which I am especially happy about. Also, one of the founders of our company, businessman Mr. Dmitry Abdushelishvili, comes from a family of diplomats, his father was the first ambassador of independent Georgia to the Republic of Uzbekistan after the collapse of the Soviet Union, and later his brother. Thus, in addition to business activities, Central Asia is a bond of deep cultural, human relations and connections for us, and therefore, we are even more pleased with each step taken towards our mutual rapprochement and mutual cooperation.
