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.