Construction on a 1.5Mta cement plant in Senaki, Shmegrelo region in western Georgia, has started. The project is an investment of US$120m by Black Sea Cement LLC, a partnership between Georgian businessman Cezar Chocheli and China’s Hualing Group.

"This is a very good example of partnership between Georgia and China," Georgian Prime Minister Georgy Kvirokashvili said at the groundbreaking ceremony.

The plant, located on a 20ha site, is expected to be commissioned at the end of 2017. Around 70 per cent of its output is earmarked for export to neighbouring countries.