Transport Infrastructure and Regional Economic Development

Abstract

Article examines the main directions of development of modern transportation systems and their role in national economic development. It analyzes official data published by the National Statistics Office of Georgia concerning the operation of railway, maritime port, and air transport systems, as well as indicators of passenger flows and cargo turnover. A year-by-year development plan of the transportation system is presented, and macro- and micro-level indicators are assessed, including the proportion of transport logistics costs relative to gross domestic product. These indicators are analyzed dynamically, with particular emphasis on the volume of cargo handled at Georgian seaports and terminals. Special attention is devoted to the modernization project of Georgian Railway, the scale of freight transportation carried out by the company, and its future development directions. The study finds that the planning and phased implementation of transport policy demonstrate positive dynamics in several cases. However, in order to maximize economic efficiency, it is essential that each infrastructure project be implemented within optimal and shortest possible timeframes, so that the economic benefits expected from the planned strategies are reflected in a timely manner in the country’s financial and macroeconomic indicators.