Georgian Infrastructure, Agriculture ministers discuss cooperation with newly appointed World Bank Regional Director

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.