Georgian Deputy Economy Minister discusses economic issues, Black Sea submarine cable project with US officials
The Minister pointed out the financial and technical support provided by USAID to help the country's economy grow in areas like agriculture, energy, trade and other, noting the agency's assistance with Georgia's integration into European structures and its economic reforms. Photo: Ministry of Economy
Tweet 
Share
Georgian Deputy Economy Minister Genadi Arveladze on Sunday discussed priority areas of economic cooperation between Georgia and the United States and its further development prospects with Carlos DeJuana, Managing Director of US International Development Finance Corporation and Alexander Sokolowski, Deputy Assistant Administrator in the Bureau for Europe and Eurasia at USAID.
Both meetings during Arveladze’s official visit to the US highlighted the Black Sea submarine electricity cable project intended to connect the grids of the South Caucasus and European Union member states, involving the construction of a high-voltage underwater transmission infrastructure to connect Georgia with Romania and allow the export of green energy to Europe and its ongoing technical and economic study, which is being carried out by Georgian State Electrosystem along with the Italian consulting company CESI.
Arveladze introduced the existing economic trends in Georgia in a meeting with the Deputy Assistant Administrator in the Bureau for Europe and Eurasia at USAID, with the USAID representatives “positively evaluating” the reforms that had been implemented and emphasised Georgia's consistent top rankings in reports released by international financial organisations and rating agencies.
The Minister pointed out the financial and technical support provided by USAID to help the country's economy grow in areas like agriculture, energy, trade and other, noting the agency's assistance with Georgia's integration into European structures and its economic reforms.
The meeting also covered the current situation in the Black Sea region on the backdrop of the ongoing war in Ukraine, with the Minister pointing out the capacity of the country's transport and logistics industry handling the increased cargo flows from Asia to Europe and vice versa.
The meeting with the Managing Director of the US International Development Finance Corporation also focused on the opening of the DFC regional office in Georgia, noting a range of fields in the country including health care, tourism, logistics, production, the development of renewable energy sources and others, have received funding and support through organisations like DFC.
The Georgian official also mentioned that the Tbilisi Silk Road Forum would be held in capital Tbilisi between October 26-27, in the first edition since the Covid-19 pandemic, to review “factors defining regional and global trade and connectivity”, and pointed out that the the US International Development Finance Corporation’s “high-level involvement” in the Forum would be “crucial”.