Head of Japanese agency with $72 billion budget visits Georgia

Shinichi Kitaoka, President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), visited Georgia today.

JICA is a governmental agency, operating in more than 150 countries, providing aid and assistance in fields such as infrastructure, disaster prevention, energy and agriculture.

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.

During his first day of the visit Kitaoka met Georgia’s President Giorgi Margvelashvili.

The officials spoke about the prospects of deeper cooperation in the fields of infrastructure and economy.

Mr. Kitaoka was serving as the President of the International University of Japan before taking the current post. Photo by President of Georgia press office. 

JICA opened its office in Tbilisi in this year, which also covers Azerbaijan and Armenia. Georgia is important for the agency taking our geopolitical location, as we connect Europe with Asia.

Georgia’s international role in the world economy is big”, President’s Advisor for Economy Maia Melikidze stated after the meeting.

Kitaoka, who will leave Georgia tomorrow, is also scheduled to meet with Georgia’s Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili.

The Japanese official, who took the post in 2015, will also visit the JICA’s regional office, a memorial of WWII Japanese captives, view the central highway linking eastern and western Georgia, sun panels and the country’s sights.

Kitaoka, serving as the President of the International University of Japan before taking the current post, will also meet students of Ilia State University in downtown Tbilisi.