Proud of cooperation with Georgian Gov’t, East-West highway is “project of century” - ADB official
The Bank’s Country Director emphasised that the ADB had invested $800 million in Georgia since 2009 for various projects, including Kobuleti and Batumi bypasses. Photo via Finance Ministry
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Lesley Bearman Lahm, the Country Director for Georgia at the Asian Development Bank, on Saturday said she was “proud” of the ADB’s cooperation with the Government of Georgia for the last 15 years, stressing the East-West highway project would strengthen the position of the country as a transit hub.
Photo via Government Administration
In her address at the opening event of a 27-kilometre section of Rikoti Pass, Lahm called it a “serious milestone” in the execution of the “project of the century” - East-West highway, adding the highway would increase the capability of the Middle Corridor - a transportation route network connecting China with Europe via the South Caucasus region.
The Bank’s Country Director emphasised that the ADB had invested $800 million in Georgia since 2009 for various projects, including Kobuleti and Batumi bypasses.
Pawel Herczynski, the European Union Ambassador to Georgia, on Saturday said the development of Rikoti Pass, a major crossing between eastern and western parts of Georgia, was a “direct contributor” to the advancement of economic and investment projects in the country, bringing Georgia closer to the EU.
Georgian Finance Minister Lasha Khutsishvili and Lesley Bearman Lahm, the newly appointed Country Director for Georgia at the Asian Development Bank, on Tuesday discussed bilateral relations and ongoing projects supported by the institution.
The Asian Development Bank on Tuesday announced it would allocate ₾20 million ($7.6mln) for deployment of zero-emission light, road, and non-road electric vehicles, and expansion of charging networks in Georgia by 70 new stations.
Maciej Czura, the head of the European Investment Bank's Regional Representation for the South Caucasus, on Saturday said “Georgia’s European Highway” became “a reality”, after opening of a new 27-kilometre, four-lane section of Rikoti Pass.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Saturday said the opening of a 27-kilometre, four-lane section of Rikoti Pass, a major crossing between eastern and western parts of Georgia, which includes 65 bridges and 38 tunnels, would “facilitate movement” on the road.
Rolande Pryce, the World Bank Regional Director for the South Caucasus, on Saturday hailed the “exceptional leadership” of the Georgian Government and “strong partnership” with other international financial institutions in the development of the East-West highway.
Georgian Infrastructure Minister Irakli Karseladze on Monday detailed “unprecedentedly complex” works on infrastructure at the Rikoti Pass - a major crossing between eastern and western parts of the country - to MPs in a session of the Sector Economy and Economic Policy Committee of the Parliament.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Wednesday discussed the current economic situation in the country and its fiscal and budgetary parameters with Masatsugu Asakawa, the President of the Asian Development Bank, during their meeting held in Tbilisi.
Masatsugu Asakawa, the President of the Asian Development Bank, on Wednesday said the Bank was “proud to support major projects and policy reforms” in Georgia during a meeting with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili.