Georgian PM says “rapid development” of infrastructure will continue to enhance country’s connectivity

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Thursday said “rapid development” of infrastructure would continue  to enhance the country’s connectivity function and ultimately improve the standard of living for the population.

Kobakhidze said the pace of infrastructure construction had “increased significantly”, with plans to attract $9 billion in investments over the next four years.

We have made great progress in the direction of highways. We had a conversation with Irakli Karseladze [Infrastructure Minister] regarding the achieved results - they are simply incredible figures. If we compare conditions under the previous Government, only 68 kilometres of highways were built in the country [back then]”, he said.

During these last years, under our Government, 34 kilometres of only tunnels have been carved and 22-kilometre-long bridges built - here we are talking only about the Rikoti section [crossing between eastern and western parts of Georgia], we are not even talking about the Kvesheti-Kobi tunnel and others. So there is an even higher rate”, he added.

The PM also said the prospected Anaklia deep sea port in the country’s Black Sea town would be able to receive first ships by 2029 “at the latest”, noting the construction of the port had already commenced and emphasising the work would “progress intensively”.

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The head of the Government also addressed ongoing developments in the country's transport infrastructure, highlighting the project for modernisation of railways would be completed “very soon”.

In the airline sector, Kobakhidze pointed out the Government's “ambitious plans” for a project of a new Tbilisi International Airport in Georgia’s capital and upgrades for Kutaisi International Airport in the country’s west.

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The PM said the latter was set to expand, with passenger capacity projected to rise from 1.7 million to five million, while the new airport in Tbilisi was expected to accommodate 18 million passengers once completed.

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The official added these projects indicated growth for the economy and tourism in the country, as they were a “significant project in all respects”, adding it was anticipated that they would be “implemented with great success”.