We had very good discussion around economic development and how to continue to advance Georgia"s economic reforms, World Bank Regional Director for the South Caucasus said after the meeting the Prime Minister of Georgia.

The key topics of the meeting between Irakli Garibashvili and Sebastian Molineus included the successful cooperation between Georgia and the World Bank, the latter"s assistance for Georgia through the pandemic, and ongoing and planned projects.

The conversation also revolved around the World Bank’s assistance in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The Prime Minister thanked the World Bank Regional Director for immediate response to Georgia’s needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Irakli Garibashvili, Georgia deeply appreciates the World Bank’s assistance during such challenges.

The Head of the Government thanked Sebastian Molineus for effective and productive cooperation, adding that Georgia appreciates the World Bank’s activities across a variety of economic areas, notably by financing numerous projects and allocating finances amounting to over USD 2.7 billion.

The parties also discussed ongoing projects. The World Bank’s initiative to finance road projects, the sectors of energy and agriculture, regional and municipal development, is vitally important for the country’s development, Irakli Garibashvili pointed out. According to him, the Georgian Government appreciates the World Bank’s current portfolio encompassing 12 active investment and development projects, to amount to USD 928 million.

“I had an excellent first meeting with the new Prime Minister. I was able to extend my congratulations on behalf of the World Bank on the Prime Minister’s recent appointment. We had very good discussion around economic development and how to enhance and continue to advance Georgia’s economic reforms. We started off our discussion by looking at the current situation with respect to COVID, as well as the vaccination efforts. We underlined the World Bank’s commitment and support to ensuring that Georgian citizens remain safe from a potential third wave and, most importantly, to accelerate and secure additional vaccines for the country. Secondly, we focused on the ongoing economic agenda. And I was very pleased to see the Government’s commitment to ongoing structural reforms in a number of key sectors, from agriculture to education and healthcare, human capital, and we also discussed competition and reform issues. And I think we have a very exciting economic reform agenda. The World Bank will be very pleased to support the Government of Georgia. And thirdly, we looked at the issue of human capital as one of the key drivers and embedding it in the strategic approach, making sure that there is a clear long-term strategy and vision for Georgia"s future, and supporting the Government in securing that strategy, making sure that it is actionable, and providing our input into appropriate diagnostics and tools to implement that strategy”, - said Sebastian Molineus.