Mariam Kvrivishvili Met Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization
Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, Mariam Kvrivishvili, held a meeting with Arsenio Dominguez, the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), being on working visit in Georgia. During the meeting, the parties discussed a wide range of issues concerning Georgia’s relations with the organization, including the implementation of electronic services in Georgian ports, partnership in various projects, cooperation in maritime education, and issues related to seafarer employment.
“The maritime sector as a whole is an important part of Georgia’s economy, and its development is one of our key priorities. We have had fruitful cooperation with the International Maritime Organization for years – Georgia successfully fulfills its duties and obligations under IMO international legal instruments, and importantly, we consistently maintain the highest standards in maritime safety and seafarer welfare, training and certification, as well as environmental protection” – Mariam Kvrivishvili noted.
Georgia has been a member state of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) since 1993. Notably, Georgia has successfully completed two audits conducted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO): a voluntary IMO IMSAS audit in 2015 and a mandatory audit in 2025. As noted by the parties, these achievements reflect Georgia’s strong commitment to the effective implementation and enforcement of international maritime standards derived from IMO conventions and regulations.
Guram Guramishvili, the Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, and Alexi Akhvlediani, the Director of the Maritime Transport Agency also attended the meeting. The Georgian side thanked Arsenio Dominguez for the technical assistance provided by the organization to Georgia over the years, which significantly contributed to the modernization of the entire sector and the introduction of international standard services. Furthermore, as highlighted by both parties, the maritime sector plays an irreplaceable role in realizing Georgia’s transit potential, including in terms of the further development and promotion of the Middle Corridor.
“Government is interested in improving transport links on the Black Sea. Hence, strengthening the capabilities of our port sector is crucial for Georgia’s positioning as a stable and reliable state. In this regard, the construction of the Anaklia Deep Sea Port is of particular importance, as it will create favorable conditions for the further development of logistical services and an industrial zone in the surrounding area” – the Minister stated.
Mariam Kvrivishvili invited the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization to the Silk Road Forum, which is scheduled to be held on October 22-23, in Tbilisi.
