Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili announced the launch of a new infrastructure investment and job creation program to upgrade urban infrastructure in 63 municipalities across Georgia. The first phase of the nation-wide effort will be implemented over the next four years with an investment of 500 million Georgian Lari (approximately $145 million) and the creation of over 15,000 new jobs.
When announcing the large scale renewal program, Garibashvili said, “Promoting equal socio-economic development of the country’s regions is very important,” adding that “improving the living, working and general development conditions for our citizens everywhere should become the main goal of the state.”
This phase of investments includes renovation of important cultural and historical heritage sites, renovation of municipalities, administrative centers, as well as creation of recreational spaces, development of tourist infrastructure in parks, construction of all municipal buildings, urban renewal of resorts as well as new leisure, tourist and public zones.
A comprehensive 10-Year Plan of National Development and a Nation-Wide Renovation Program will soon be unveiled by the government. In the meantime, the plan was discussed by Garibashvili, and Teresa Czerwińska, Vice President of the European Investment Bank (EIB). So far, EIB has invested almost 2 billion Euros in the private and public sectors of Georgia, as a result of which the county has become a key beneficiary of the EIB by per capita investments in the eastern neighborhood of the EU.