Kerry Logistics and Anaklia City Sign MOU on Strategic Cooperation for Georgia's Deep Sea Port and SEZ Development

Jul 04, 2018 13:30 JST

Source: Kerry Logistics Network Limited

HONG KONG, Jul 04, 2018 - (Media OutReach) - Kerry Logistics Network Limited ('Kerry Logistics'; Stock Code 0636.HK) today announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding between its member company Globalink and Georgia's Anaklia City JSC ('Anaklia City') to cooperate in the development of the Anaklia Deep Sea Port ('Anaklia Port') and Special Economic Zone ('Anaklia SEZ') in Anaklia, Georgia. Leveraging its long presence in Georgia and the Caucasian region, Globalink is expected to bring in a wealth of logistics and multimodal freight knowledge and expertise to the project.

Scheduled for opening by the end of 2020, the Anaklia Port and Anaklia SEZ, comprising modern logistics and industrial parks, will be fully integrated with rail and road connections to the infrastructure networks of Georgia and neighbouring countries. The Anaklia Port is expected to become one of the largest ports in the Black Sea region and first deep water port in Georgia with a handling capacity of up to 10,000 TEUs vessels, catering for a mix of cargoes including containers, dry bulk, liquid bulk and other types of cargoes.

Edwardo Erni, Managing Director - China and North Asia of Kerry Logistics, said, "We are honoured to be given the opportunity to participate in this exciting project. Anaklia is a key cargo gateway in the Caucasian region. With Globalink's proven track record in the Georgian market, and our comprehensive multimodal freight network across Eurasia, we are committed to devising innovative solutions to facilitate the building of Anaklia Port into a successful logistics hub for the region with integrated logistics, sea-rail, and sea-road services."

Anaklia is strategically located along the shortest trade route between China and Europe in the Belt and Road network, acting as a cargo gateway of the landlocked Central Asian and Caucasian regions.

Ketevan Bochorishvili, CEO of Anaklia City JSC, said, "We are excited about the cooperation with Globalink which has a deep understanding and comprehensive experience in the Caucasian region and Central Asia. With the Anaklia Port and Anaklia SEZ, we are establishing a state-of-the-art logistics, trade and business platform, which will serve a pivotal role in increasing the connectivity of Georgia as it is positioned along the shortest route from China to Europe via the Middle Corridor and from India to Europe. The successful development of Anaklia projects is expected to unlock a potential market of over 150 million consumers and serve as a bridge between Asia and Europe."

On 28 June 2018, Hong Kong signed a free trade agreement ('FTA') with Georgia, which is the first FTA between Hong Kong and an economy in the Caucasian region of Eurasia. The FTA is comprehensive in scope, encompassing trade in goods and services, investments, a dispute settlement mechanism, and other related areas.

About Kerry Logistics Network Limited (Stock Code 0636.HK)
Kerry Logistics is an Asia-based, global 3PL with the strongest network in Asia. Its core competency is providing highly customised solutions to multinational corporations and international brands to enhance their supply chain efficiency, reduce overall costs and improve response time to market. It currently has more than 1,000 service points in 55 countries and territories, and is managing 52 million sq ft of land and logistics facilities worldwide, providing customers with high reliability and flexibility to support their expansion and long-term growth. Kerry Logistics Network Limited is listed on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and is a selected Member of the Hang Seng Corporate Sustainability Index Series 2017-2018.

About Anaklia City JSC
Anaklia City JSC was established by the shareholders of Anaklia Development Consortium LLC (ADC) in mid-2017 to develop the project of large scale Special Economic Zone adjacent to and fully integrated with the Anaklia Deep Sea Port. Within the initial phases, will be developed up to 400 ha territory as logistics and light manufacturing parks with auxiliary commercial and business facilities, while in long term the project will cover the area of up to 2,000 ha of mixed used developments. The project has an ambition to emerge as frontier transport and business hub on a crossroad of Europe and Asia. ADC is a consortium of multi-national enterprises that was granted 52-years right to develop, finance, construct, operate, market and manage the Greenfield Anaklia Deep Water Black Sea Port in Georgia on a design, finance, build, operate and transfer basis. For more information, please visit: www.anakliadevelopment.com.

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Cornerstones Communications Ltd.
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E kerrylogistics@cornerstonescom.com

Source: Kerry Logistics Network Limited