The Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, Mariam Kvrivishvili, introduced Ivane Abashidze to the post of Director of the Marine Transport Agency, who has been the Deputy General Director of Columbia Shipmanagement Georgia LLC since 2023 until now.
“The maritime sector is one of the leading industries for our country, which plays a major role in the development of the economy as a whole. Therefore, it is important that the Maritime Transport Agency is headed by Ivane Abashidze, an experienced, kind professional in the field. We have big plans in general for the development of the maritime sector, and the agency will play a key role in the process of implementing them. I am sure that with Ivane’s experience, correct vision and guidance, we will manage this business together successfully,” said Mariam Kvrivishvili.
Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Guram Guramishvili attended the presentation of the new Director of the Marine Transport Agency.
Ivane Abashidze’s professional career is entirely related to the maritime field. Including since 2011, he has worked in various positions at the Maritime Transport Agency – Head of the Legal and International Relations Department from 2014 to 2018, and Deputy Director of the Agency from 2018 to 2023. In 2015 – 2020, he was the coordinator of the national project GloMEEP, and in 2016 – 2023, one of the founders and organizers of the Georgian International Maritime Forum.
Ivane Abashidze has a great experience of working in international organizations – in 2018 – 2020, he was Vice-Chairman of the Advisory Committee of the International Mobile Satellite Organization (London, United Kingdom). Has worked in various leadership positions in the International Maritime Organization (IMO): Among them was Chairman of the Accountability and Payroll Working Group in 2023 and Vice-Chairman of the Legal Committee of the International Maritime Organization in 2021-2024.
Ivane Abashidze holds a Bachelor of Law from Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University and a Master of Law in International Maritime Law (IMLI), Malta. From 2024 to today – PhD, Law Faculty Institute (Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University).
In addition, Ivane Abashidze is also a pedagogical activity – from September 2015 until now, he has been a lecturer at the Batumi State Maritime Academy in the field of international maritime law. He is the author of several scientific publications and books in the fields of maritime law, security, and international defense.
The Maritime Transport Agency in the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development system represents the National Maritime Authority of Georgia, which ensures the organizational and legal functioning of the maritime sphere by national and international requirements. His field of activities also includes ensuring the maritime safety and security of the Georgian flag merchant fleet and Georgian ports, coordinating the prevention of marine pollution, coordinating the production of search and rescue operations at sea, monitoring the movement of ships in the Georgian territorial sea, etc. ..
