The restoration of ferry services between Ukraine and Georgia is expected to expand the logistical options for Ukrainian exporters. It could shorten the route to Central Asia and the Caucasus, regions with which Ukrainian producers had established close ties before the full-scale invasion.
This was shared with AgroTimes by Irina Kosse, a leading expert at the Institute for Economic Research and Policy Consulting.
According to her, the ferry connection is a logical addition to the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR).
"This project could also attract China, as it fits perfectly with the concept of the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative, providing another route for transporting goods from China to Europe and vice versa. Moreover, through China, we could trade with other countries in the region, including India. However, in my opinion, China will join this logistics chain once regular ferry services commence," noted Irina Kosse.
The expert explained that currently, to reach these countries, vehicles travel along the Black Sea coast through Turkey.
"This is a rather lengthy journey. Moreover, considering all the fees paid in each country that the trucks pass through, it significantly increases transportation costs. The ferry service reduces travel time, and I hope it will lower logistics costs as well. It’s no wonder that businesses, even after trial runs, have shown great interest in the ferry," added Irina Kosse.
