The Ministry of Economy rejected TV reports, which alleged that China Communications Construction Company Limited - a company supposed to be the Georgian Government’s private partner for the Anaklia port project - was under international sanctions, and said no sanctions were applied to the company.

“We would like to address the information spread by the media and opposition political parties regarding the Chinese-Singaporean state consortium participating in the Anaklia port project.

It is important to clarify that neither international nor US sanctions apply to the Sino-Singaporean consortium. This campaign is fully politicized and aims to hinder the Anaklia port project implementation deliberately.

China Communications Construction Company Limited (CCCC Ltd) is the leading member of the consortium and has submitted a proposal in the selection process for a private partner for the Anaklia deep-water port project.

Details of the submitted proposal will be clarified with the consortium soon, after which the winner will be announced, while negotiations on the partnership and concession agreements commence.

CCCC Ltd is the largest Chinese company involved in construction activities across various sectors, including roads, ports, hotels, energy, metallurgy, transport, and logistics.

The 2nd member of the consortium, China Harbor Investment LTD, is a Chinese state-owned company registered in Singapore that invests in ports, logistics, and infrastructure projects. The company also specializes in port operations.

Additionally, one of the consortium’s subcontractors, China Road and Bridge Corporation, has been involved in major infrastructure projects in Georgia since 2018, among them, he has won the tenders announced within the financing of the European Investment Bank and the World Bank. It focuses on ports, roads, bridges, navigation channels, manufacturing mechanical equipment, and spare parts. The company has offices in 60 countries worldwide.

Another subcontractor, Qingdao Port International Co., Ltd, manages five major Chinese ports.

While CCCC Ltd and some subsidiaries were on the US Department of Commerce’s Entity List in 2020, this listing imposes restrictions on specific transactions but does not constitute sanctions that block assets or limit financial transactions”, - reads the statement of the agency.