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EBRD considers loan of up to €60mn to help upgrade Tbilisi subway
port sealed in 2016 with a consortium headed by one of Ivanishvili’s main political rivals.
"It is important that Belarus is able to diversify its transport routes and use the Black Sea route, to use the Georgian ports, which are developing very intensively, and to use the improved transport infrastructure that Georgia offers to the countries of the region,” Turnava said.
Prime Minister of Belarus Sergey Rumas confirmed his country’s interest in economic cooperation with Georgia.
"Belarus is interested in delivering Belarusian goods to third countries through Georgia or vice-versa, importing merchandise via the Black Sea, in particular with use of the port infrastructure," -said Rumas after the meeting.
The board of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is to consider a financing contribution of up to €60mn that would be invested in upgrading the Tbilisi subway.
Loan proceeds for the benefit of the Tbilisi Transport Company would be used to finance objectives including a renewal of rolling stock. The investment would improve the reliability, safety and efficiency of public transport in the Georgian capital through the acquisition of approximately 40 modern metro cars (10 train sets), the EBRD said in a project review. “The project is part of a broader programme aiming to assist the city in reforming its management of public transport by financing the renewal of bus and metro systems and network restructuring,” the bank added.
The EBRD board will consider whether to go ahead with the loan in April.
The project is part of Green Cities 2 (GrCF2) and a follow-on investment to the Tbilisi Green City Action Plan (GCAP).
GrCF2's primary goal is to achieve significant environmental improvements and promote the green transition quality within relevant cities.
9.1.3​ Aviation sector news
Georgia’s airports served 4,555,673 passengers in January-October, marking a 4% rise year on year, United Airports of Georgia has announced.
Passenger traffic through the country’s airports surged by 23% in 2018. A similar growth rate was expected for 2019 before Russia introduced a flight ban in the wake of anti-Kremlin protests in Tbilisi during early summer. Traffic at Tbilisi International Airport, which mainly serves destinations to Russia and non-Schengen Area countries, decreased by 1% to 3,255,965 passengers in the 10-month period. In October alone, the figure was 15% lower year on year. The flight ban was introduced in July. It has visibly impacted passenger volumes at the country’s main airport.
Traffic at Kutaisi International Airport, the main airport for Europe flights, surged by 40% y/y to 719,324 passengers. The growth rate stood at 44% y/y in October alone.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in a ​Kommersant​ interview on September 25 that he supports the resumption of direct flights from Russia to Georgia.​ They were suspended in July in a diplomatic row between the two countries over anti-Moscow demonstrations and anti-Kremlin remarks made by a TV presenter.
“It seems to me that it would be right [to restore the flights] since the majority of the Georgian population have realised the counterproductive and provocative
43​ GEORGIA Country Report​ March 2020 ​​www.intellinews.com