ADB using Georgia’s experience with environmental policy to update vision
Georgia is among 10 countries where the Asian Development Bank is observing the implementation of its environmental Safeguard Policy with the aim of using the practical experience for updating the 2009-introduced document. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
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Georgia is among 10 countries where the Asian Development Bank is observing the implementation of its environmental Safeguard Policy with the aim of using the practical experience for updating the 2009-introduced document.
The Georgian Ministry of Infrastructure on Tuesday said an ADB delegation was visiting the country to learn about the country’s experiences before incorporating them in the updated Safeguard Policy Statement.
ADB officials at the meeting with the Minister of Infrastructure of Georgia. Photo: Ministry of Infrastructure
The delegation met the Georgian Finance Minister Lasha Khutsishvili and Infrastructure Minister Irakli Karseladze, with the infrastructure body saying the latter discussion had shared "interesting findings" from management of projects in Georgia with the visiting representatives of the Bank.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Finance cited Khutsishvili as telling Shane Rosenthal, the Regional Director of the ADB, Bruce Dunn, the Director of the Sustainable Development and Climate Change Department Safeguards Division, and other representatives of the Bank the country’s authorities were ready for "active cooperation and convergence of positions".
The meeting at the Ministry of Finance. Photo: Ministry of Finance
Launched in 2009, the ADB’s Safeguard Policy Statement addresses emerging environmental and social challenges of development in its developing member countries, including Georgia.
The state body said the Statement covered assessment and management of environmental and social risks and impacts, labour and working conditions, pollution prevention and resource efficiency, health and safety, biodiversity and sustainable management of natural resources, cultural heritage and others.
Reforms planned in state-owned enterprises, energy market development, energy security and development of human capital were in the focus of a meeting between Lasha Khutsishvili, the Georgian Finance Minister, Yevgeniy Zhukov, the Director General for Central and West Asia of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Shane Rosenthal, the ADB Country Director for Georgia, on Friday.
The United States Agency for International Development and Georgian Renewable Power Company have teamed up to develop a solar power project at the Qartli wind farm to increase Georgia's clean energy production capacity during periods of low wind speed in the central municipality of Gori, the USAID announced on Friday.
Georgian prime minister Irakli Garibashvili on Tuesday told the United Nations Climate Change Conference 85 percent of electricity generation in Georgia came from renewable sources and added further enhancing the share of renewable energy was a “strategic priority” for the country.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a €101 million loan to build and upgrade infrastructure and enhance services in urban centres to boost regional development and economic opportunities in Georgia.
Infrastructure projects and social programmes for population in regions across Georgia were discussed on Tuesday in a meeting between the Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and local governors appointed by the Government.
Georgian Finance Minister Lasha Khutsishvili on Wednesday met representatives of the Asian Development Bank to review work for organising the annual meeting of its Board of Governors in Tbilisi in 2024.
Georgian Finance Minister Lasha Khutsishvili and Lesley Bearman Lahm, the newly appointed Country Director for Georgia at the Asian Development Bank, on Tuesday discussed bilateral relations and ongoing projects supported by the institution.