Why is Poti FIZ a key logistics asset for Georgia?

Poti Free Industrial Zone is the oldest and largest zone in the country with over 300 companies registered. It covers an area of over 3 million square meters and has direct access to the Poti cargo port. The zone is located on the historic “Silk Road” that links the European Union, the Caucasus, Central Asia and the Middle East.

Key benefits

Zero rate of corporate tax, value added tax, import/export duties, property and dividend tax.
Fixed tax of 4 % on products sold in mainland Georgia.
Direct access to a deep-water terminal, allowing to reduce shipping costs by 15⁠–⁠20%.
Ready‐made plug‐and‐play warehouses ranging from 500 to 5,000 m², as well as heavy industry sites up to 20,000 m².

⚡️ FIZ Poti is also an ideal starting point for re-exports to the EU thanks to the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) agreement in force.

Tax advantages of Poti FIZ

Tax	Standard tax rate in Georgia	Tax rate in Poti FIZ
Corporate tax	15 % (in the distribution)	0 %
VAT	18 %	0 %
Import duty	0 / 5 / 12 %	0 %
Tax on dividends	5 %	0 %
Property tax	до 1 %	0 %

When selling goods or services on the territory of Georgia, a fixed 4 % tax on the proceeds is applied.

Steps to register a company with Poti FIZ

Online reservation of the name (via Poti FIZ platform).
Signing a lease agreement with the zone administration (electronic signature is acceptable).
Submission of articles of association and passports of founders → registration in the FIZ registry (3⁠–⁠5 working days) Invest In Samegrelo.
Account opening in Bank of Georgia Poti Branch or TBC Digital (1 day).
Obtaining FIZ Enterprise certificate and customs code.

Cost: FIZ license; notary services + translations.

Infrastructure and transportation

Port of Poti (400 m) – 15 container lines, depth up to 12 m, throughput capacity of 10 million tons per year.
Railroad branch line in the territory of the zone – direct communication with Azerbaijan and Armenia.
Highway E60 to Tbilisi – 260 km (4 hours).
Kutaisi International Airport – 90 km (for re‐export of air cargo).

Sectors benefiting from Poti FIZ

Import and re‐export of household appliances: zero duty, fast processing at the port.
Light manufacturing and assembly: build‐to‐suit site, low energy costs.
Food industry (bottling, packaging, cold storage): customs dry port + certified free‐zones.
E‐commerce fulfillment: delivery to EU and Turkey in 3⁠–⁠5 days; 0 % VAT within the zone.

Case study

A trading company imports household chemicals from China (CIF Poti – 850,000 USD). At FIZ Poti, the goods are redistributed and sent to Ukraine, Turkey and Romania.

Savings amounted to:

18 % VAT (153,000 USD).
5 % import duty (42,500 USD).
5 % tax on dividends (after repatriation of profits).

Total: about 220,000 USD of net tax savings.

Frequently asked questions about Poti FIZ

Is it possible to open an office without a warehouse?: Yes, rental of office space from 15 m² with 1 Gbps internet is available.
Are there restrictions on activities?: Casinos, tobacco products, oil and gas are prohibited; all other activities are allowed.
Is a local director required?: No, a non‐resident sole founder is sufficient; the director may also be a non‐resident.
How quickly is the FIZ customs code processed?: It usually takes 1 working day after company registration.

Conclusion

Poti FIZ offers maximum tax benefits and instant access to the seaport, which allows you to reduce logistics costs by 20⁠–⁠30%. If your business is related to re‐exporting, packaging or light manufacturing, FIZ Poti offers a significant competitive advantage in terms of cost and speed of entry into EU, Middle East and Central Asian markets.

Open a business in Poti FIZ in 5 days

Ready to take advantage of the maritime hub? Leave your request – we will calculate the savings, coordinate the warehouse and register your company in Poti FIZ on a turnkey basis.