Georgia’s key logistics asset FIZ Poti

Poti Free Industrial Zone is the oldest and largest free space in Georgia with more than 300 registered companies and an area of over 3 million square meters. The zone is located next to the Poti cargo port and is on the route of the historic “Silk Road” connecting the European Union, the Caucasus, Central Asia and the Middle East.

Central advantages

0 % income tax, VAT, import/export duties, property and dividend taxes.
Only 4 % tax on sales of goods in mainland Georgia.
Direct access to a deep-water terminal, which saves 15⁠–⁠20 % on sea freight.
Ready‐made plug‐and‐play warehouses from 500 to 5,000 m² and heavy industrial plots up to 20,000 m².

⚡️ Poti FIZ is an ideal base for re‐export to the EU: Deep & Comprehensive FTA (DCFTA) is active.

Tax benefits in Poti FIZ

Tax	Tax rate in Georgia	In Poti FIZ
Income tax	15 % (in the distribution)	0 %
Value added tax	18 %	0 %
Import duty	0 / 5 / 12 %	0 %
Tax on dividends	5 %	0 %
Property tax	up to 1 %	0 %

When selling goods/services to Georgia, a flat 4 % tax on proceeds applies.

Algorithm of company registration in Poti FIZ

Online reservation of the title (Poti FIZ platform).
Signing a leasing agreement with the zone administration (electronic signature is allowed).
Submission of incorporation documents and passports of founders → registration in the FIZ registry (3⁠–⁠5 working days) Invest In Samegrelo.
Opening an account with Bank of Georgia Poti Branch or TBC Digital (1 day).
Obtaining FIZ Enterprise certificate and customs code.

Cost: FIZ license; notary services and translations.

Infrastructure and logistics

Port of Poti (400 m): 15 container lines, depth up to 12 m, capacity of 10 million tons per year.
Railroad line in the zone: direct connection to Azerbaijan and Armenia.
E60 highway to Tbilisi: 260 km (4 hours).
Kutaisi International Airport: 90 km (re‐export airpartion).

Sectors that benefit from the Poti FIZ

Import and re‐export of household appliances: zero duty, quick re-registration at the port.
Light manufacturing and assembly: build‐to‐suit formats, low-cost electricity.
Food industry (bottling, packaging, cold storage): customs dry port and certified free zones.
E‐commerce fulfillment: delivery to EU and Turkey in 3⁠–⁠5 days; 0 % VAT on goods inside the zone.

Real example

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

Saved:

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

Thus, the total saving is about 220,000 USD.

Questions and answers about Poti FIZ

Is it possible to open an office without a warehouse?: Yes, it is possible to rent offices from 15 m² with internet at 1 Gbps speed.
Are there restrictions on types of activities?: Smoking, casino and hydrocarbon extraction are prohibited; the rest are allowed.
Is a local director required?: No, it is possible to appoint a foreign sole founder; the director can be a non‐resident.
How quickly is the FIZ customs code processed?: Usually 1 working day after company registration.

Conclusion

Poti FIZ offers maximum tax benefits and vital access to the seaport, reducing logistics costs by 20⁠–⁠30 %. If your business is related to re‐exporting, pre‐packing or light manufacturing, Poti FIZ offers a competitive cost advantage and speed of entry into EU, Middle East and Central Asian markets.

Open a business in Poti FIZ in just 5 days

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