Japan International Cooperation Agency opens office in Tbilisi
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The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has opened a regional office in Georgia’s capital of Tbilisi.
Georgian and JICA officials attended a special ceremony today to mark the official opening of the new office.
The JICA noted it would implement and coordinate its regional projects from the Tbilisi branch that would "enable us to establish tighter cooperation”.
The Caucasus region is very interesting for the JICA. We have been cooperating with Georgia for 25 years. For establishing successful relations [in the region], Georgia is an ideal country,” said President of JICA Shinichi Kitaoka.
In Georgia, JICA finances construction of several sections of the country’s main transport route East-West Highway.
Additionally, with $200 million financial resource provided by the JICA "very important infrastructural project will be developed”, announced Georgia’s Finance Ministry.
The agency capital is 7 trillion 925.3 billion yen, based on official data of 2015, which is more than 72 billion USD. The agency’s foreign aid exceeds 10 billion USD annually.
In a bid to attract 3.5 billion GEL in investments for infrastructure projects over the next four years, Georgia plans to seek aid from Japanese financial institutions.
Japan is supporting Georgia’s transformation into a regional transport and logistics hub by offering the country $38 million USD.
A Japanese government agency who assists economic and social growth in developing countries is interested in helping Georgia develop its agricultural, tourism and eco-tourism sectors.
Georgia is discussing the possibility of establishing cooperation with Japan’s non-profit philanthropic organisation, the Nippon Foundation.
The Japanese government and the corporation Mitsubishi have gifted 96 hybrid and electric cars to Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs. In his speech delivered today at a special ceremony in Tbilisi, Kvirikashvili thanked the Japanese government, the Embassy of Japan to Georgia and the Mitsubishi corporation for the "very significant” gift.
Japan will allocate about $343 million to help Georgia develop its major transport artery East-West Highway.
The Japanese government has allocated funds to clear territory near the occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region of explosive debris and mines that remain from the Russia-Georgia 2008 War.
The Japan International Cooperation Agency has provided modern medical equipment worth $1.8 million to the Tbilisi Republican Hospital, the Ministry of Health announced on Thursday.