Page 54 - GEORptJun22

shelf-life expires on the way,” Agil Lankon, a trader who trades goods across Turkey, Azerbaijan and Russia, was reported as saying.
Given uncertainties in relation to collecting payments from buyers in heavily sanctioned Russia, some farmers in Turkey have taken the decision to only send produce to Europe, Hurriyet also reported.
9.1.3 Aviation sector news
Tbilisi Airport to receive larger aircraft following building of additional lane
Tbilisi International Airport will be able to handle larger aircraft after an upgrade that includes the construction of an additional lane and a taxi yard, the Georgian Ministry of Economy said on 5 May.
The upgrades will increase the capacity and safety of the airport's runway and reduce aircraft takeoff and manoeuvre times, as well as other upgrades related to the modern signalling system required for the "full and proper" functioning of the airport and its runways. The airport currently has six runways.
Georgian Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili said the new runway will accommodate large aircraft used to carry cargo, pointing to a "growing flow" of cargo at the airport. He also added that investors are showing an increased interest in developing cargo capacity in the country, saying that Tbilisi Airport can "play the role of a cargo hub" in this effort.
TAV Georgia, the operator of Tbilisi and Batumi International Airports, invested $2.5mn in the project, with the work carried out by the Georgian air navigation service provider Sakaeronavigatsia and TAV Georgia itself.
9.1.4 Automobile sector news
Georgia to spend $49mn on purchase of 44 new metro cars
Georgia’s government plans to purchase 44 new metro cars for the capital Tbilisi’s metro system, at a cost of $49.2mn.
Tbilisi City Hall is working on the project with specialists from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
“Tbilisi Metro will have eight new metro cars by 2022, while the remaining 36 will be purchased by 2024,” Tbilisi City Hall said.
Guramishvili, Station Square, Sarajishvili, Marjanishvili, Freedom Square, 300 Aragveli, Rustaveli, Isani, Tsereteli, and Nadzaladevi metro stations will also be renovated with the support of the EBRD.
A contract for the renovation of Gotsiridze metro station was also reportedly signed with LTD Mamisoni on November 11. Renovations will be finished in about half a year.
In November, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a new €101mn loan for improving infrastructure in Georgia. Included in plans for this funding were upgrades to Tbilisi’s municipal metro system, possibly involving new metro cars among other measures.
9.1.5 Tourism sector news
Tourism revenues in Georgia roughly half of pre-crisis level in 12 months to March
Georgia’s revenue from tourism reached $174.5mn in March, 71.3% of the figure recorded in March 2019, before the pandemic, the National Tourism Administration announced.
Interestingly, the recovery in terms of revenues was achieved in March despite a proportionally smaller number of travellers: only one-third of the travellers of March 2019. Including the tourism and non-tourism visitors, the total number of foreigners travelling in Georgia in March 2022 was only 211,484 - roughly a third of the 619,325 in March 2019, according to data from the Tourism
54 GEORGIA Country Report June 2022 www.intellinews.com