AFD allocates €500,000 in support of sustainable railway development in Georgia
The project will be launched this month and is expected to run between 12-18 months. Photo: Georgian Railway/Facebook
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Georgian Railway has received a €500,000 grant from the French Development Agency (AFD) to promote sustainable development of railway transport in the country and to align Georgia with the European Union standards and regulations in the field, the company announced on Monday.
As part of the grant, a national rail policy document, freight market research, and development strategy in the regional context will be elaborated in cooperation between the two sides. An investment plan aiming at expanding the freight market in Georgia will also be prepared.
The Georgian company also announced the arrival of a French expert in Georgia to “properly implement” the set goals. During their visit, the professional will consult with representatives of the Georgian Railway and various other official agencies for the task.
The project will be launched this month and is expected to run between 12-18 months.
AFD has provided support to Georgia since 2012, with a total of €250.7 million in financial commitments for projects for urban and rural development, infrastructure, governance and renewable energy. The Agency opened its office in Tbilisi in 2017.
Ongoing programmes in the areas of regional and urban development, vocational education and governance with the support of the French Development Agency (AFD) were discussed at the meeting between Lasha Khutsishvili, the Georgian Finance Minister, and Diego Colas, the French Ambassador to Georgia, on Wednesday.
French Ambassador to Georgia Diego Colas announced the provision of the new grant on June 17 at a conference where the conclusions of the first technical assistance programme implemented in 2017-2020 were presented.
The French Development Agency (AFD) is planning to lend about €483 million to Georgia through the new partnership agreement signed for 2021-2023 between Georgian Finance Minister Lasha Khutsishvili and AFT Regional Director for Eurasia Cecile Couprie today.
The French Development Agency (AFD) has approved a grant of €300,000 under its technical expertise and experience exchange (FEXTE) fund to support the newly established National Agency for Sustainable Land Management and Land Use Monitoring of Georgia to promote the development of modern agriculture.
Priority areas of the bilateral cooperation between Georgia and Azerbaijan in various transport sectors were discussed during a meeting between Levan Davitashvili, the Georgian Economy Minister, and Rashad Nabi oglu Nabiyev, the Minister of Digital Development and Transport of the Republic of Azerbaijan, on Monday.
Revenues from transport services in Georgia will increase by about $150 million compared to 2021 and exceed $960 million in the ongoing year, Georgian-based non-governmental organisation Society and Banks revealed on Monday.
Georgian Railway has unveiled a renovated train station that will connect passengers between cities of the country to the Kutaisi International Airport in western Georgia.
Passengers arriving at or departing from the Kutaisi International Airport in western Georgia will receive free week-long train tickets from Georgian Railway starting this Saturday, the company announced on Thursday.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, along with the representatives of executive, legislative and local authorities, visited the rehabilitated Kopitnari railway station in Georgia’s western Imereti region on Saturday.
Georgian Railway reported a profit of ₾52,711 ($18,399/€17,179) in 2021 following four years of operating losses, as part of a new financial statement of the company.
Georgian Railway will be able to carry about 21 more million tonnes of cargo annually following the completion of the modernisation of the network in the country, Georgian Railway Director General Davit Peradze told Business Morning TV programme on Monday.
Georgian Finance Minister Lasha Khutsishvili on Tuesday discussed cooperation with Cécile Couprie, the Regional Director for Eurasia for the French Development Agency, and outlined plans for the third annual bilateral consultation meeting between the Georgian Government and the institution.