Georgian PM: Gov’t “standing guard” for national interests

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Friday said his Government was “standing guard” for “national interests” of the country, in comments that highlighted economic and infrastructural development over the recent years in comments to the Parliament.

Garibashvili claimed “correct and reasonable” Government policy had “brought prosperity” in the form of “unprecedentedly high” double-digit economic growth over the past two years. 

In 2020, the economy of the whole country was ₾50 billion ($19.42bln) - this year it will be ₾80 billion ($31bln) [...] [The gross domestic product per capita] is at the $8,000 mark - which, of course, is a very big progress”, he told lawmakers.

Poverty and unemployment in the country are at “historic lows”, he also said, adding 220,000 jobs had been created in the past two years.

The Government head also told MPs renovation of 800 schools and 1,000 kindergartens across the country was in the plans, in addition to other infrastructural initiatives.

We are now starting full rehabilitation of 12 cities and resorts. We have completed urban renewal projects in 63 municipalities. By 2025, all cities and municipalities will have 24-hour water supply”, he said.

The construction of the Anaklia Deep Sea Port is scheduled to launch on the Black Sea coastline in October, the PM said in comments to the legislative body, adding plans also included starting the construction of “one of the best new airports in the region, in which we estimate $400 to $500 million will be invested”.

The Initiative for establishing an “IT city” in the former Parliament building in the western city of Kutaisi was also mentioned by Garibashvili.