Georgian finance, infrastructure ministers, ADB president discuss cooperation
Georgian officials expressed their gratitude to Asakawa for the Bank’s support in “various sectors” of the country’s economy including road, regional and municipal, urban, energy and education. Photo: Finnace Ministry
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Georgian Finance Minister Lasha Khutsishvili and Infrastructure Minister Irakli Karseladze on Friday discussed cooperation with the Asian Development Bank during a meeting with the Bank’s President Masatsugu Asakawa.
The ministers briefed Asakawa on current state in the country’s economy on the backdrop of existing challenges in the wider region, and reform agenda aimed at increasing the country’s transit, logistic and tourism potential with the increased demand for the Middle Corridor - a multimodal transport corridor connecting China to Europe through the South Caucasus.
The meeting also pointed out the investments made by the Bank for construction of Rikoti Pass, a major crossing between eastern and western parts of Georgia and Kvesheti-Kobi tunnel on the North-South Road Corridor.
- New section added to Georgia’s longest tunnel with “90% of work completed” - Infrastructure Ministry
Georgian officials expressed their gratitude to Asakawa for the Bank’s support in “various sectors” of the country’s economy including road, regional and municipal, urban, energy and education.
On his part, Asakawa noted the country’s role in development of the Middle Corridor as well as the steps taken by the country aimed to solve climate change problems.
In his social media post, following the meeting, Khutsishvili highlighted his “excellent meeting” with ADB president, and noted the discussions pointed out “most productive and long standing” cooperation between the country and the Bank.
Thrilled to have an excellent meeting with @ADBPresident today.
— Lasha Khutsishvili ???????? (@Lasha_Khutsish) December 1, 2023
Reiterated most productive & longstanding ???? btw ???????? and @ADB_HQ We look forward to seeing @ADBPresident again in ???????? in May 2024 for 57th Annual Meeting of ADB. with utmost gratitude. pic.twitter.com/HHYvOHWuSK
The Minister expressed his “utmost gratitude” for the opportunity of meeting Asakawa once again at the ADB’s upcoming 57th annual meeting, set to be hosted in Tbilisi following year.
A new 1.5-km-long section has been added to the Kvesheti-Kobi tunnel - a 9-km-long and 15-metre-wide tunnel, the largest in Georgia - as part of works on the North-South Road Corridor, the Ministry of Infrastructure said on Friday.
A 1,800-metre-long tunnel dug during ongoing works on Rikoti Pass, a major crossing between eastern and western parts of Georgia, is the longest found across the country, the Ministry of Infrastructure said on Wednesday.
The 57th annual Meeting of the Asian Development Bank will be held next year in the Georgian capital city of Tbilisi, the Ministry of Finance announced on Thursday.
Georgian Finance Minister Lasha Khutsishvili on Thursday highlighted the “strong economic” performance of Georgia and noted its double-digit growth over the past two years despite global challenges at a Business Session of the Asian Development Bank Board of Governors.
Georgia’s Municipal Development Fund has become the first institution to be granted the right to make state procurements for projects supported by the Asian Development Bank, the country’s Ministry of Infrastructure said on Wednesday.