Georgia working with int’l partners to transform country into regional transport, logistics, digital hub - PM at Global Gateway Forum
He emphasised “an enhanced connectivity” as a “priority” of Georgia’s domestic agenda and noted despite not having a land board with the European Union, Georgia had “untapped opportunities” across the Black Sea that would “firmly link” the country with the bloc and allow it to “use the full potential of integration into the EU single market”. Photo via Government Administration
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The Georgian Government has been working with the country’s international partners and financial institutions to transform Georgia into the regional transport, logistics and digital hub, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili told the Global Gateway Forum on Wednesday in Brussels.
In his speech as the keynote speaker at a working panel session on transport corridors hosted within the framework of the Forum, Garibashvili highlighted Georgia’s strategic geographic location - “being at the crossroads of Europe and Asia” - as one of the country’s “strongest assets”.
He emphasised “an enhanced connectivity” as a “priority” of Georgia’s domestic agenda and noted despite not having a land board with the European Union, Georgia had “untapped opportunities” across the Black Sea that would “firmly link” the country with the bloc and allow it to “use the full potential of integration into the EU single market”.
Given the ever-growing importance of diversifying and expanding East-West trade, the Middle Corridor across Georgia is becoming a viable alternative to existing routes connecting Europe and Asia. With enhanced infrastructure capabilities, streamlined processes and competitive costs, the importance of this corridor is growing”, Garibashvili noted, adding his Government focused "heavily" on the development of the major infrastructure to support Georgia’s position as a regional centre for trade and logistics.
The Head of the Government cited several infrastructure projects, including the Black Sea submarine electricity cable project, which will create transit opportunities and back-to-back trade options of green, renewable energy between the EU and the South Caucasus via Georgia.
Garibashvili also highlighted the construction of a deep sea port in the country's Black Sea town of Anaklia, aimed to increase Georgia’s ability to transport large amounts of cargo, the improvement of the main highways and the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway to increase Georgia’s transit potential, and building a new international airport in Tbilisi to position the country as “an important participant in the global aviation sector”.
He also noted the Government was "proactively exploring new initiatives" within the renewable energy sector, including hydro, wind, solar and other sustainable sources, adding major pipelines across Georgia, such as the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan, Baku-Supsa oil pipelines and the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline ensured “safe transportation” of hydrocarbons from Central Asia to Europe.
The role of our development partners in implementation of the aforementioned projects is paramount, of course. Among others, the European Investment Bank is one of the leading financial institutions, which supports Georgia and aligns with our priorities", the PM said.
Garibashvili thanked Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, for inviting and hosting him at the Forum, noting the platform aimed to “form partnerships”, which would be “a strong catalyst for ensuring sustainability”.
Dear Heads of States and Governments, Commissioners,Ministers, Dear Friends, It is a great honour and pleasure to address the Global Gateway Forum on behalf of the Georgian Government. I would like to thank President von der Leyen for hosting us today in Brussels.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Wednesday featured in the opening of the Global Gateway Forum organised by the European Commission in Brussels, the Government Administration said.
Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili on Wednesday highlighted Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili’s participation in the Global Gateway Forum in Brussels, by saying the Government head would present “the vision of Georgia, how we see the development of important infrastructure projects in the future”.
Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili on Tuesday said the country’s Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili had a “very in-depth” conversation with Oliver Varhelyi, the European Union Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, earlier today, discussing Georgia’s EU integration.
Georgia's progress on the European Union accession path and implementation of the bloc’s conditions for granting the country the membership candidate status were discussed on Tuesday in a meeting between the Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and Oliver Varhelyi, the European Union Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement.
Georgia will receive €16 million to improve road safety in the country along its East-West highway, as the European Commissioner for Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Olivér Várhelyi and European Investment Bank President Werner Hoyer formalised a financial package at the Global Gateway Forum, by which the European Commission will provide a grant for the country.
Georgian Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili on Monday said the Anaklia deep sea port project, earmarked for western Georgia's Black Sea town, was developing “according to the plan” and “none of the deadlines” were being exceeded.
A 20.5 km section of Georgia’s main east-west gas pipeline, constructed near the occupation line in Shida Kartli region in the central part of the country, will improve domestic supply as it becomes operational in the second half of this year, the Ministry of Economy said on Tuesday.