ADB President: Bank supporting development of Georgia as regional hub
He also expressed his gratitude to the Georgian Government and Tbilisi City Hall for hosting the annual meeting, which is being held in the country for the first time. Photo: Masatsugu Asakawa/twitter
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Masatsugu Asakawa, the President of the Asian Development Bank, on Friday said the institution supported Georgia’s development as a regional hub in finance, climate, environment, sustainable energy and other areas.
Speaking at a press briefing at the 57th annual meeting of the Bank in Tbilisi, Asakawa said Georgia’s “strategic location” at the crossroads of the East and the West made it an “essential country” for regional cooperation, adding ADB would continue to support the country in the purpose.
Bridge to the Future’ is the theme of this year's meeting, which emphasises Georgia’s location at the crossroads of East and West”, he said.
Asakawa also emphasised the importance of regional cooperation between Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan and the Bank’s support for improving connectivity, infrastructure and logistics to encourage “peaceful movement” of people and goods around the region.
The President also mentioned the Bank had supported Georgia since 2007 and financed the country with $3.9 billion in the form of sovereign loans and grants.
He also expressed his gratitude to the Georgian Government and Tbilisi City Hall for hosting the annual meeting, which is being held in the country for the first time.