World Bank Regional Director hails Georgian Govt’s “exceptional leadership” in East-West highway development
The Regional Director also emphasised that the highway’s development, which includes the reduction of travel distance and improvement of safety standards, would have “a positive impact” on Georgia’s business and tourism, contributing to the economic growth of the country. Photo via Government Administration
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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.
At the opening of a 27-kilometre, four-lane section of Rikoti Pass, a major crossing between eastern and western parts of Georgia, Pryce highlighted the “national, regional and international importance” of the highway.
The Regional Director also emphasised that the highway’s development, which includes the reduction of travel distance and improvement of safety standards, would have “a positive impact” on Georgia’s business and tourism, contributing to the economic growth of the country.
The World Bank is especially proud to be the first international financial institution to support this project with $2.3 billion from the American flagship project”, Pryce said.
She stressed the Bank continued the partnership with the Georgian Government to implement “transformational projects” that would contribute to the “ambitious vision” of the Georgian people.
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.
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.
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.
Charles J. Cormier, the Regional Director for Infrastructure for Europe and Central Asia at the World Bank, on Tuesday said Georgia had the potential to become a centre not only for trade but also for production of goods.
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.
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.
The World Bank on Wednesday said it had launched Greening Firms in Georgia, a report serving as a “call to action” for policymakers, businesses and stakeholders to prioritise and invest in improving energy efficiency across the country.
Bilateral cooperation, current economic stance and post-pandemic progress made by the country towards economic and governance reforms were discussed on Wednesday by Georgian Finance Minister Lasha Khutsishvili and the World Bank’s high officials in Tbilisi.
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.