Japan-Georgia sign $343mln deal to develop East-West Highway
The money will be spent on constructing the 14km long Shorapani-Argveti section of the East-West Highway. Photo: Finance Ministry.
Tweet 
Share
Georgian Finance Minister and vice-president of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) have signed a $343 million agreement today to help Georgia develop its major transport artery, the East-West Highway.
More specifically, the money will be spent on constructing the 14km long Shorapani-Argveti section of the East-West Highway.
Japanese technologies will be used during the implementation of the second phase of the project.
The project is planned to be finalised in the first quarter of 2023.
The video by TV4.ge shows an artist's impression of Rikoti Pass, which is considered the most complicated section of the East-West Highway.
The agreement was signed during the official visit of Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Taro Kono.
Kono will visit Georgia on September 4-5 and this will be the first high level visit from Japan.
Japan will allocate about $343 million to help Georgia develop its major transport artery East-West Highway.
Georgia continues to improve regional connectivity and road transport efficiency by opening a new section of its major transport artery East-West Highway.
The World Bank is continuing to help Georgia improve its main transport artery, the East-West Highway, by offering €16.9 million.
Georgia’s business environment has an excellent reputation worldwide and Japanese companies are attracted to the country, says Japanese State Minister for Foreign Affairs Nobuo Kishi.
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.
/free-trade-deal-with-uk.jpg)
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.
The main tunnel connecting the country’s east and west will be closed for the next five days to undergo routine maintenance. Traffic will be restricted for all types of vehicles from 8 a.m on June 3 to 8 a.m. on June 7.
The Roads Department of Georgia has signed an agreement for the reconstruction of the fourth section of the Rikoti Pass – a mountain pass which divides Georgia into its eastern and western parts – with Guizhou Highway Engineering Group and China National Technical Import and Export Corporation, announced the department earlier today.
The modernisation of Rikoti Pass continues to more efficiently connect East and West Georgia. As part of the project two new tunnels have been carved on the Khevi-Ubisa section, near the villages of Ubisa and Gantiadi.
Georgia is currently building 140 kilometers of new large highways, of which a total of 70 km roads will be opened by the end of 2020, says Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia.
The two sections of the Samtredia-Grigoleti and Grigoleti-Kobuleti roads in Georgia’s west, in total 15 km of the East-West highway, were opened on Saturday, the Georgian Infrastructure Ministry announced.
Georgian Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili on Wednesday said Georgia’s geographical location, free trade deals and "attractive" business environment could give it the role of a “regional gateway” for Japanese companies.