PACE Group has received a $50 million funding boost from the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) towards the development,construction, and operation of a new multi functional marine terminal at the Port of Poti, Georgia. OPIC and PACE Group officially signed the funding agreement at a ceremony held on February 4 th 2019 at the Biltmore Hotel in Tbilisi. The high-profile event was attended by the President of Georgia, Salome Zurabishvili, the Prime Minister of Georgia, Mamuka Bakhtadze, as well as other government and parliament officials, members of the diplomatic corps, and foreign guests. A new ultra-modern terminal is now planned for construction. Located on 25 hectares of dedicated land, the new terminal will require dredging work to take place in the harbor to a depth of 12 M,which will result in the sea port being able to accept vessels up to 253M in length and with a load capacity up to50,000 tonnes. Named the PACE Terminal Project, once completed, this new ultra-modern deep seaport and terminal complex in the Poti New Port Basin is expected to strengthen PACE Group’s powerful port infrastructure.
Cargo turnover will subsequently increase by 2.5 million tonnes, almost doubling the company’s current annual cargo turnover of three million tonnes.
In the future, after the construction of the breakwater to the north of the port, the water area will become as deep as 15 M, which will allow the terminal to serve even larger vessels –up to a capacity of 60,000 tonnes. The project will also update the existing port infrastructure to include a modern hydraulic system.
The $50 million investment is the largest loan approved by OPIC for one particular project in Georgia and the entire Caucasus Region. The total cost of the project is $120 Millions,with the first stage of investments being $93 Million, of which $50 Million will be financed by OPIC. After completion of the PACE Terminal Project, the terminal is expected to become a unique and powerful maritime infrastructure, and will be seen as another big step for Georgia towards establishing the country’s own transportation corridor.
The improved port will increase trading capacity for the country, which is an important transit link connecting Central Asia and Europe. The project will create many permanent and local jobs and support the economic development of the Samegrelo Zemo Svaneti region of Georgia.
Official Opening of Poti New Sea Port
On January 29, 2022, official opening ceremony of Poti New Sea Port took place. The Ceremony was attended by the Prime Minister of Georgia, Ministers, Parliamentarians, high ranking government officials, US Ambassador and other distinguished guests.
US Ambassador to Georgia visits Pace Terminal
On July 16, 2020, US Embassy delegation headed by the Ambassador Kelly C Degnan visited Pace Terminal. The purpose of the visit is to get acquainted of the ongoing construction of Pace Terminal project.
PACE Group Receives First Tranche of Investment for Construction of New Poti Port during Pandemic
The PACE Terminal is situated in the so-called New Sea Port of Poti. The project consists of two phases. The total investment cost of the first phase is $93 million, of which $50 million is provided by the United States International Development Finance Corporation (DFC). The latter sum constitutes the largest investment carried out by the DFC in any single project in Georgia. The first tranche worth $30.8 million was transferred in early May 2020.
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On October 1st, 2019, Ground-breaking ceremony of Pace Terminal has been held at Poti Port.
The event was attended by the Vice Prime Minister of Georgia Maia Tskitishvili, the Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia Natia Turnava, other government officials, the Managing Director of OPIC Kenneth Angell, Vice Chair of6 Albright Stonebridge Group James O'Brien, diplomatic Corp, participants of the project and other honorable guests.
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On May 14, 2019, 50 million US Dollar Loan Agreement for Pace Terminal Project was signed between Pace Group and the US Overseas Private Investment Corporation “OPIC”
The event took place in Washington DC, at OPIC Head Quarter. On behalf of OPIC, Agreement was signed by Mr. David Bohigian, OPIC’s Acting President and CEO. The ceremony was attended by His Excellency David Bakradze - Ambassador of Georgia to the United States of America, Mr. Kenneth Angell, OPIC Managing Director for Project Finance and Other Government Officials.
On 4 February 2019, at 14:00 took place official signing ceremony of the approval of 50 million USD financing for Pace Terminal Project, carried out by the Overseas Private Investment Corporation “OPIC”
The event was attended by the President of Georgia Salome Zurabishvili, the Prime Minister of Georgia Mamuka Bakhtadze, other Government and Parliament officials, the Managing Director of OPIC Kenneth Angel, Us embassy Chargé d'Affaires Ross Wilson, Vice Chair of Albright Stonebridge Group James O’Brien
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Opic to provide $50 million dollar funding for the pace terminal
The official signing ceremony of the approval of 50 million USD financing for Pace Terminal Project, carried out by the Overseas Private Investment Corporation “OPIC” will take place on 4 February 2019, at 14:00, at the Biltmore Hotel in Tbilisi.