Bulgarian Ambassador: “important” that Georgia expands infrastructure capabilities

Vesselin Valkanov, the Bulgarian Ambassador to Georgia, on Wednesday said it was “important” for Georgian authorities to understand the country’s role in connecting Asia to Europe and effect an expansion of related infrastructural capabilities.

The Georgian Public Broadcaster cited Valkanov as noting the ferry connection between his country and Georgia across the Black Sea, before pointing out the wider dimension of the latter’s geographical position.

It is very important that Georgia realises its opportunity to be a part of the connection between Asia and Europe. It is good that Georgia is striving to expand its infrastructural capacity to transport goods from Central Asia to Europe. We would like to see more efforts from Georgia and more connections with the European Union, specifically with Bulgaria", the diplomat said.

Valkanov also highlighted the handing over of the Chairmanship of the Intergovernmental Commission of TRACECA - an international transport cooperation programme between the EU and its partner countries in Eastern Europe, South Caucasus and Central Asia - to Georgia this year. 

We saw the desire to develop this corridor and it is a common desire. I believe that it will work", the Ambassador said in reference to routes addressed by the programme.

Georgia hosted the most recent Commission meeting on February 10, where Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili said TRACECA member countries had been cooperating “for years” to improve infrastructure and coordinate operations. 

“The Chairmanship is important for Georgia in terms of being able to better coordinate and communicate with partner countries, which will contribute to the more efficient operation of TRACECA and, in general, to increasing competitiveness in our corridor”, Davitashvili said.