Georgia has the honour to assume the Chairmanship-in-Office of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) for the period 1 January to 30 June 2026. As a founding member of the Organization, Georgia reiterates its unwavering commitment to strengthening regional cooperation, promoting sustainable development, and fostering peace, stability, and prosperity across the wider Black Sea region.
In light of the evolving political and geopolitical environment, and consistent with its long-standing strategic outlook, Georgia will devote its Chairmanship to advancing practical cooperation among Member States and enhancing the visibility and effectiveness of the Organization. In this spirit, Georgia underscores its vision to „transform the Black Sea into a sea of connectivity—a space for cooperation, development, and shared progress.”
Building on this direction, Georgia will prioritize practical, results-oriented initiatives designed to advance the core objectives of the Organization. The Georgian Chairmanship-in-Office will work closely with BSEC Member States and its partners to strengthen regional cooperation and deliver tangible results.
The following priority areas will guide the work of the Georgian Chairmanship-in-Office:
- Strengthening Regional Connectivity and Supporting the Middle Corridor
Georgia will prioritize advancing regional connectivity, with a focus on improving the capacity, efficiency, and sustainability of transport and trade routes, particularly the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (Middle Corridor). Strengthening energy security and digital connectivity between Europe and Asia will form an integral part of this priority, reinforcing the region’s resilience and competitiveness.
Enhanced coordination of border procedures, logistics standards, and multimodal transport systems will remain central to efforts aimed at consolidating the Middle Corridor as a viable East–West transportation artery and a key catalyst for regional growth and economic integration. In this context, Georgia will also place emphasis on the development of road infrastructure supporting the Middle Corridor, alongside advancing port infrastructure to ensure seamless maritime–land connection and improved freight mobility.
Digital technologies will play a critical role in streamlining transport operations. The Georgian Chairmanship will therefore encourage initiatives aimed at promoting the application of innovative digital solutions, the development of Digital Corridors and Hubs, and the broader digitalization of transport and logistics chains across the BSEC region.
- Advancing Energy Security and Developing the Green Energy Corridor
Georgia will prioritize fostering a connected, sustainable, and energy-secure future across the Black Sea region. In this regard, the Georgian Chairmanship will support the development of the Green Energy Corridor and related initiatives that enhance clean, reliable, and diversified energy connectivity among the BSEC Member States and between the wider Black Sea region and Europe.
This priority extends beyond infrastructure development; it establishes a foundation for long-term energy independence and sustainability. The creation of modern and clean energy transmission routes will diversify supply sources, strengthen regional resilience, and reinforce the strategic importance of the Black Sea region within the broader European energy landscape.
Georgia will promote frameworks for enhanced regional energy cooperation to facilitate the integration of renewable energy resources, improve cross-border electricity transmission systems, and encourage investments that accelerate the transition toward a low-carbon and secure energy future.
- Revitalizing Tourism and Fostering Cultural Cooperation
The Georgian Chairmanship will place particular emphasis on strengthening the tourism sector across the Black Sea region, with cultural tourism standing at the core of its priorities. Ensuring that the Black Sea region remains an attractive and competitive destination is essential for sustaining the sector’s significant contribution to the economies of the Member States.
In this context, Georgia will encourage joint initiatives aimed at revitalizing the tourism sector, enhancing cultural exchange, and promoting the Black Sea region as a unified and appealing destination. Special attention will be devoted to the BSEC region’s diverse cultural heritage as a key driver of tourism development. This includes fostering the sustainable preservation, promotion, and visibility of the region’s rich historical, artistic, and cultural assets, thereby positioning cultural tourism as a major catalyst for regional cooperation and growth.
Sustainable tourism development and the protection of cultural heritage will remain central to the efforts undertaken during the Georgian Chairmanship.
- Advancing Digitalization and Good Governance
In line with its commitment to innovation and regional integration, the Georgian Chairmanship will prioritize strengthening digital cooperation and advancing good governance across the Black Sea region. Georgia will encourage enhanced cross-border digital interoperability, dynamic information exchange between state institutions, and the development of secure and trusted digital identity and authentication systems to support more efficient e-service delivery.
Building strong physical and digital infrastructure, harmonizing policies and regulations, and strengthening institutional capacity will remain central to these efforts. The Chairmanship will also facilitate member countries in prioritizing research projects on potential areas that can be best optimized using AI. In particular, a special emphasis will be made on identifying common areas where the introduction of AI infrastructure can lead to significant gains in trade and commerce efficiency, specifically regarding logistics and coordination on the sea and in land infrastructure connected to naval trade, such as ports and trade goods processing facilities.
Within the framework of good governance, the Georgian Chairmanship will promote modern, citizen-oriented public service models. This includes expanding the “One-Stop-Shop” approach to integrate more state services into unified spaces, introducing advanced technologies such as FACE ID–based identification and authentication to enhance secure and efficient verification, and encouraging the use of AI-driven tools and virtual assistants to streamline processes and improve service quality. Georgia will also support the adoption of automated and robotic systems to optimize administrative workflows.
Through these priorities, Georgia aims to reinforce the Black Sea region as a space of connectivity, cooperation, and shared progress. The Georgian Chairmanship-in-Office will work constructively with BSEC Member States, Permanent International Secretariat (PERMIS) Related Bodies, Observers, and other partners to ensure that the Organization continues to fulfil its founding mission and responds effectively to emerging regional and global challenges. Georgia stands ready to promote an inclusive and forward-looking agenda that strengthens regional sustainability, enhances cooperation, and advances shared prosperity and stability across the Black Sea region.