Prime Minister begins tour of Georgia’s regions

Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has begun a tour of Georgia’s regions to meet local soldiers, review infrastructure projects and assess problems in each area.

The Head of the Government visited Samegrelo in Western Georgia today. There, he visited the Senaki Military Base where he paid tribute to the fallen soldiers who died in the Russia-Georgia War in August 2008.

At the base he met solders and was shown the recently upgraded facilities, including the modernized soldier’s barracks, gym and pool.

Since 2013, the Ministry of Defence allocated 1.8 million GEL to improve the conditions of military servants. This money was used to rehabilitate the barracks and heating system, as well as for the construction of a drinking water tank.

Prime Minister Garibashvili believed protection of dignity and support to military and civilian personnel as one of the necessary requirements for strengthening the defence of the country. He explained the Government was actively engaged in improving the social and health protection programs for military and civilian personnel.

I have begun to visit Georgia’s regions [and] today I visited Samegrelo. Before summer I plan to visit every region in order to assess the problems that have accumulated over the years, Garibashvili said.

At the military base the Prime Minister looked at ways to further improve the facility and promised a second pedestrian brigade would be built to help infrastructure development, said Defence Minister Irakli Alasania.

The Prime Minister checked our combat readiness and familiarized himself with the base’s infrastructure and the changes carried out at the base over the past year. He promised to help with the development of the brigade’s infrastructure. Our soldiers are happy today because we have such positive assistance from the Government’s chairman, Alasania said.

After visiting the Senaki military base, the Prime Minister continued his visit by travelling to Anaklia, a Black Sea resort city located near the breakaway region Abkhazia. He said Anaklia would become a major port hub.

Based on preliminary assessments, the Anaklia Port should develop as a logistical and industrial zone, where an international airport and liquid gas terminal should be constructed.

American Investment Holding ‘Conti Group’ have shown interest in this project. The company’s president Kurt Conti met with Georgia’s PM when Garibashvili visited America earlier this year.

The ‘Conti Group’ have developed a three-phase development project at the Anaklia Port, which included an annual turnover of 100 million tons.

"It is especially important to develop and utilize the coastal zone near Abkhazia,” Garibashvili said.

"Construction of infrastructure in this area to international standards and improve general progress would be interesting for our Abkhazian brothers,” he noted.

Also in his regional visits today, the PM will open a newly constructed road in the Khurcha village and will visit the border post and meet members of the local population.

In the second half of the day, Garibashvili will examine the buildings being built in Zugdidi for refugees, and the Rukhi village, where he will examine the land where a regional hospital is set to be built.

In Zugdidi, the PM will also visit the Dadiani palace and meet with the local community.

Tomorrow, the Prime Minister is expected to visit Batumi in the Black Sea coastal region of Adjara and meet with the Adjara Autonomous Republic’s Cabinet Ministers.