Japan gifts 96 hybrid and electric cars to Georgia’s Interior Ministry
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The Japanese government and the corporation Mitsubishi have gifted 96 hybrid and electric cars to Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Initially the cars were intended for the Cabinet of Ministers of Georgia. However, through the initiative of Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili and the unanimous consent from all ministers, all the cars will now be used by the patrol police of the country’s Interior Ministry.
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.
Georgian officials and the representatives from the Embassy of Japan to Georgia attended the event. Photo from the Interior Ministry press office.
The PM highlighted that state security was of the "highest importance” for the government of Georgia which is supporting the innovative steps of the Interior Ministry.
The PM also said that ecology was among the key priorities for the government of Georgia and the new cars, which are environment friendly, will play a positive role in this direction.
We [the government] abolished tax for the import of electric cars and decreased the import tax by 60 percent for hybrid cars. That is why 35-40 percent of imported cars in Georgia are either hybrid or electric,” Kvirikashvili said.
The PM stated that Japan had prominently featured in Georgian media over the past two weeks because of the country’s support and the victory of Georgian wrestler Levan Gorgadze at the Tokyo Grand Sumo Tournament.
Minister Giorgi Gakharia spoke about planned reforms in the Interior Ministry. Photo from the Interior Ministry press office.
It was our joint victory and I am very glad that the Japanese Ambassador to Georgia Tadaharu Uehara was the first one who congratulated me on the victory,” Kvirikashvili said.
Georgia’s Interior Minister Giorgi Gakharia also thanked Japan for the "huge support” and stated the cars will play their role in the implementation of an "ambitious reform plan” that the ministry has elaborated, which will reform the patrol and criminal police of the country and provide integrated management for border control.
The minister said that the implementation of the reforms has already been launched.
A group of Japanese wine importers lead by master of wine Kenichi Ohashi has visited Georgia for a week to learn about the country’s wine and introduce it to Japanese consumers.
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.
Georgia is discussing the possibility of establishing cooperation with Japan’s non-profit philanthropic organisation, the Nippon Foundation.
Georgia has received advanced medical equipment from Japan under a project aiming to equip hospitals and medical centres in the country with a range of technology to serve their patients.
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili has stated at today’s governmental meeting that it is time to end the driving of black jeeps by state officials and government members and instead advocated the use of environmentally friendly transport.
Georgia’s capital Tbilisi is continuing to modernise its public bus fleet by introducing the first electric bus which will serve passengers in testing regime for a while.
The government has two priorities in this strategy: neutralise the results of previously careless environmental management and preserve existing natural resources in a way to ensure that Georgia is perceived as a country with a green economy.
Japan has decided to ease visa requirements for Georgian citizens to promote people to people connections and deepen relations between the two countries.
Georgia is ready to start negotiations with Japan on a free trade agreement, Prime Minister of Georgia Mamuka Bakhtadze announced at a meeting with the Foreign Minister of Japan Taro Kono yesterday.
Bakhtadze says the agreement would help Georgia, which already has free trade deals with the EU, EFTA and China, to better integrate into the global economy.
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.
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The government of Japan has signed four agreements with Georgia today to finance three green policy and one demining projects, the total cost of which is $293,264.
Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze, who is visiting Japan, says that the signing of a bilateral investment deal between Georgia and Japan in the future will further encourage economic relations between the two countries.
“Our market is fully open, economy liberal and location strategic”
A Georgia-Japan business forum was held in Tokyo today, where Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze and Economy Minister Giorgi Kobulia introduced Japanese business society to Georgia’s investment climate and business opportunities.
Georgia and Japan have signed an agreement on the insurance of exports and investments today within the Georgia-Japan business forum held in Tokyo.
The Embassy of Japan to Georgia has gifted Japanese cherry (Sakura) saplings to different Georgian universities today. Georgian Minister of Education Mikheil Chkhenkeli, rector of Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University (TSU), George Shervashidze and Japanese Ambassador to Georgia, Tadaharu Uehara have planted some of the saplings in the inner yard of the 1st building of TSU.