“Georgia’s European Highway” becomes reality - EIB representative at Rikoti Pass’s 27-km section opening
The EIB approved its first loan for Georgia in 2011 to support the development of the highway, Czura said, adding the Bank allocated over €1 billion for the country, with its commitments fully guaranteed by the European Union. Photo via Government Administration
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Maciej Czura, the head of the European Investment Bank's Regional Representation for the South Caucasus, on Saturday said “Georgia’s European Highway” became “a reality”, after opening of a new 27-kilometre, four-lane section of Rikoti Pass.
Czura noted he “highly appreciated” the cooperation with the Georgian Infrastructure Ministry and other financial institutions - the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, in developing the East-West highway, stressing “this is a very good step for expanding the connectivity of Georgia”.
The EIB approved its first loan for Georgia in 2011 to support the development of the highway, Czura said, adding the Bank allocated over €1 billion for the country, with its commitments fully guaranteed by the European Union.
The Bank’s representative also said the latest grant for the country was formalised during the Global Gateway Forum in Brussels, in which Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili participated.
Czura, on behalf of the Bank’s Vice President Teresa Czerwińska, welcomed the “milestone” in the long-term cooperation between Georgia and the EIB by opening the Rikoti section.
Lesley Bearman Lahm, the Country Director for Georgia at the Asian Development Bank, on Saturday said she was “proud” of the ADB’s cooperation with the Government of Georgia for the last 15 years, stressing the East-West highway project would strengthen the position of the country as a transit hub.
Pawel Herczynski, the European Union Ambassador to Georgia, on Saturday said the development of Rikoti Pass, a major crossing between eastern and western parts of Georgia, was a “direct contributor” to the advancement of economic and investment projects in the country, bringing Georgia closer to the EU.
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 Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Saturday said the opening of a 27-kilometre, four-lane section of Rikoti Pass, a major crossing between eastern and western parts of Georgia, which includes 65 bridges and 38 tunnels, would “facilitate movement” on the road.
Rolande Pryce, the World Bank Regional Director for the South Caucasus, on Saturday hailed the “exceptional leadership” of the Georgian Government and “strong partnership” with other international financial institutions in the development of the East-West highway.
Georgian Infrastructure Minister Irakli Karseladze on Monday detailed “unprecedentedly complex” works on infrastructure at the Rikoti Pass - a major crossing between eastern and western parts of the country - to MPs in a session of the Sector Economy and Economic Policy Committee of the Parliament.
A 1,800-metre-long tunnel dug during ongoing works on Rikoti Pass, a major crossing between eastern and western parts of Georgia, is the longest found across the country, the Ministry of Infrastructure said on Wednesday.