Georgian Infrastructure, Agriculture ministers discuss cooperation with newly appointed World Bank Regional Director
Pryce “positively assessed” the progress of the ongoing projects in the country and noted that these results create “a good opportunity” to expand cooperation between the World Bank and Georgia. Photo via Agriculture Ministry
Tweet 
Share
Georgian Infrastructure Minister Irakli Karseladze and Agriculture Minister Otar Shamugia on Thursday held meetings with the newly appointed World Bank Regional Director for the South Caucasus Rolande Pryce, discussing cooperation.
In a meeting between Karseladze and Pryce, the sides reviewed completed, current and planned infrastructure projects supported by the World Bank, including regional and tourist infrastructure, cultural heritage and socially important projects in Georgia, and highlighted their importance for the country's regional development.
Georgian Infrastructure Minister Irakli Karseladze and Rolande Pryce, the World Bank Regional Director for the South Caucasus. Photo via Infrastructure Ministry
Pryce “positively assessed” the progress of the ongoing projects in the country and noted that these results create “a good opportunity” to expand cooperation between the World Bank and Georgia, with Karseladze expressing hope for “fruitful cooperation” in the future, the Infrastructure Ministry said.
The joint projects, existing challenges and the progress achieved in the direction of agriculture and environmental protection were discussed by Shamugia and the new Regional Director.
We have a very important cooperation with the World Bank; I am sure that this relationship will deepen in the future. [...] By collaborating with them, we have achieved significant progress in land management, reclamation infrastructure, and agricultural development”, the Agriculture Minister said.
Georgian Agriculture Minister Otar Shamugia and Rolande Pryce, the World Bank Regional Director for the South Caucasus. Photo via Agriculture Ministry
He briefed Pryce on the ongoing state projects supporting farmers, the indicators of agricultural production and export growth, as well as highlighted the legislative changes made by the Georgian Parliament in the direction of environmental protection on industrial emissions, water resources management, radiation safety and air quality management.
At the meeting, the conversation also touched on the growing statistics of protected areas in the country and the climate change challenges, the Agriculture Ministry said.
Cooperation between Georgia and World Bank and the Black Sea submarine electricity cable project intended to connect the grids of the South Caucasus and European Union member states were discussed on Friday in a meeting between the Georgian Deputy Economy Minister Genadi Arveladze and Koen Davidse, the Executive Director of the Bank.
The World Bank’s assessment of Georgia’s logistics capabilities has jumped from 119th to 79th position in its latest Logistics Performance Index, marking an improvement of 40 spots in the report assessing countries’ ability to move goods across borders with speed and reliability.
The dynamics of cooperation between the Government of Georgia and the World Bank were reviewed on Wednesday by the country’s Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and the Bank’s newly appointed South Caucasus Regional Director Rolande Pryce, who will officially take office on September 1.
The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development will allocate €46.2 million for enabling development of sustainable agriculture, irrigation and land market in Georgia, the Ministry of Finance of Georgia announced on Monday.
Georgian Agriculture Minister Otar Shamugia on Tuesday announced the launch of a $150 million project jointly financed by the Government of Georgia and the World Bank and aimed to benefit farmers and enterprises by enhancing irrigation services, land management and agricultural support.
The World Bank on Wednesday said the Georgian economy had demonstrated “resilience” amid a rapidly changing external environment due to sound macroeconomic management, while the country faced challenges in creating high-quality jobs.
Natia Turnava, the Acting Governor of the National Bank of Georgia, on Monday met Rolande Pryce, the World Bank Regional Director for the South Caucasus, to review implemented and prospective projects between the sides.
Steps to be implemented within the Georgia Resilient Agriculture, Irrigation and Land Project were discussed in a meeting between the Georgian Agriculture Minister Otar Shamuagia and Rolande Pryce, the Regional Director of the World Bank in the South Caucasus, in Tbilisi on Monday, the Ministry said.