Chinese companies continue to dominate major infrastructure projects in Georgia. Most recently, China Railway Tunnel Group Co., Ltd. (CRTG) was awarded a major state procurement contract by the Roads Department of Georgia under the Ministry of Infrastructure.
On September 1, the Roads Department signed a contract with CRTG for the construction of the Tbilisi Bypass Lot 2 – Tsitsamuri-Avchala Road Section. The accepted contract value is approximately GEL 499.1 million. The project is financed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
The tender attracted significant participation from Chinese companies. Of the 10 bidders, six were Chinese, three were Turkish, and one was a Georgian company, meaning that Chinese companies accounted for 60% of all bidders. Chinese companies also submitted the lowest bids, with CRTG ultimately offering the lowest bid and securing the contract.
CRTG is ultimately owned by the Chinese government and operates under the supervision of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council (SASAC). Its parent company, China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC), was added to the U.S. Department of Defense’s list of companies with ties to the Chinese military in 2020. CRTG and its parent company have also faced controversies related to corruption, labor rights, and project management in countries including Singapore, Zambia, and Kenya.
This is not CRTG’s first involvement in Georgia’s infrastructure sector. The company has participated in Georgian state procurements since 2018. In 2022, CRTG was awarded a contract to construct a 9-kilometer tunnel on the Kvesheti-Kobi road section. In 2024, the company won another state contract worth GEL 224 million for the construction of the Stepantsminda-Gveleti road section of the Stepantsminda-Larsi International Road.
Civic IDEA has closely monitored CRTG’s activities in Georgia. In its 2024 report, “Chinese Company CRTG: Security Risks and Infrastructure Failures,” Civic IDEA highlighted the controversies surrounding the company and raised concerns about entrusting critical infrastructure projects to a company with a record of serious international violations. Despite these concerns, relevant Georgian state agencies have continued to award major infrastructure contracts to CRTG, raising questions about the application of adequate due diligence in the selection of companies for strategically important projects.
Meanwhile, CRTG is also participating in another ADB-financed infrastructure project announced by the Roads Department in February 2026. With an estimated value of approximately GEL 932 million, the project envisages the construction of two road sections: Avchala-Gldani Interchange and Gldani Interchange-Tbilisi Airport.
The bidding process was completed on June 1, and the tender remains under evaluation. Of the eight bidders, six are Chinese companies and two are Georgian companies. The lowest bids were submitted by Xinjiang Beixin Road & Bridge Group Co., Ltd. and Longjian Road and Bridge Co., Ltd.
Civic IDEA will continue monitoring the procurement process and provide further updates on the outcome of the tender.
