Poti (;
Mingrelian: ფუთი;
Laz: ჶაში/Faşi; formerly known to the Turks as
Faş) is a
port city in
Georgia, located on the eastern
Black Sea coast in the
region of
Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti in the west of the country. Built near the site of the
ancient Greek colony of
Phasis and deriving its name from the same, the city has become a major port city and industrial center since the early 20th century. It is also home to a main naval base and the headquarters of the
Georgian navy. Adjacent to the
Poti port area is the
RAKIA owned Free Industrial Zone. Inaugurated in April 2008, it has registered a number of businesses, including those from Iranian businesspeople trying to evade
sanctions against Iran.