Infrastructure Minister at Tbilisi Silk Road Forum: 18 projects worth $3.4 bln to boost Georgia’s transit potential
Tskitishvili also spoke about the importance of increasing investments in logistic infrastructure, including modernising railways, expanding Black Sea ports and building the Anaklia Deep Sea Port. Photo: Ministry of Infrastructure.
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Eighteen infrastructure projects worth 3.4 billion USD will be carried out to boost Georgia’s transit potential, said the Infrastructure Minister Maia Tskitishvili at Tbilisi Silk Road Forum today.
Tskitishvili noted the importance of the construction of the East-West Highway in the country, which will ensure faster and safer movement in the country.
Tskitishvili also spoke about the importance of increasing investments in logistic infrastructure, including modernising railways, expanding Black Sea ports and building the Anaklia Deep Sea Port.
Infrastructure Minister Tskitishvili said that these projects are not merely about infrastructure: they will help to build “a more liberal economy, more connectivity between countries, more contacts with the regions".
Tskitishvili noted the importance of constructing a highway between the country’s capital of Tbilisi and the large town to the south, Rustavi.
She responded to recently voiced public protest against the construction of the highway, and said that through negotiations they would try to convince the population of the need of the Rustavi-Tbilisi highway.
Tskitishvili also noted the importance of the energy sector and said that with the development of the economy, the generation and supply of energy is necessary.
We need to develop the energy sector. Therefore, we need more hydropower plants, more energy. The energy sector is a sector ... where we have great potential and need to develop it”, said Maia Tskitishvili.
Tskitishvili noted that investments in the energy sector have declined because of public protests.
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia, who has opened the two-day Tbilisi Silk Road Forum attended by 2,000 delegates from up to 60 countries, has stated that the conception of the New Silk Road, to connect Europe with Asia, and the participation in the initiative is among the top priorities of the Georgian government.
Tbilisi is hosting the Silk Road Forum on October 22-23 for the third time and will welcome 2,000 government and business sector representatives from around 60 countries to discuss opportunities of strengthening political, economic and cultural relations between Asia and Europe.
The second Silk Road Forum, titled ‘Tbilisi Belt and Road Forum’ continues in Georgia’s capital with a panel discussion titled ‘Use Investment Opportunities’. The first session under this panel, Georgia’s Investment and Trade Opportunities, is being moderated by well-known media consultant Jan Burel.
The second Silk Road Forum continues in Tbilisi, giving opportunity to the participants to establish cooperation and sign various deals.
PM Giorgi Gakharia says that Georgia offers one of the most liberal tax policies, unique opportunities for capital investment, trade and innovation, using the country’s geopolitical location, “which has already led to more than eight billion USD investments in the country over the past five years.”
In total 300 different meetings have been held during the 22-23 October Tbilisi Silk Road Forum, Georgian Infrastructure Minister Maia Tskitishvili has stated earlier today, expressing hope that the meetings involving Georgia “will be translated into investments.”