The fifth international “Silk Road” forum opened today in Tbilisi, reports Novosti-Georgia.

The summit is considered the region’s largest platform for discussions on trade, transport, and investment issues. This year, it has brought together up to 2,300 participants from over 70 countries.

At the opening plenary session, the Prime Ministers of Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan—Irakli Kobakhidze, Nikol Pashinyan, and Ali Asadov—delivered speeches.

In his address, Kobakhidze highlighted Georgia’s role as a bridge between Europe and Asia, noting that the country is actively developing infrastructure and digital corridors, as well as implementing large-scale projects, including the construction of new ports, railway modernization, and the installation of an undersea energy cable across the Black Sea, linking the region with European markets.

The “Silk Road” forum has been held in Tbilisi since 2015, occurring every two years. This year, it will last two days and, for the first time, include a financial summit, which Kobakhidze says underscores Tbilisi’s status as a “regional financial and innovation hub.”

Participants include representatives from governments, international organizations such as the UN, World Bank, and Asian Development Bank, as well as major companies and experts. Discussions are focused on the future of global trade, the development of the Middle Corridor, energy integration, and digital transformation.