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Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili today delivered his annual address to Parliament, reviewing the government’s performance over the past year, and discussing his cabinet’s anticipated 10-year development plan, CIVIL.GE reported.
Noteworthy that Garibashvili only took on the Prime Ministerial post on February 22, following Giorgi Gakharia’s abrupt resignation over United National Movement leader Nika Melia’s detention.
Economic Development, Recovery from COVID-19, Vaccination
According to PM Garibashvili, the effects of the pandemic contracted the Georgian economy by 6.2%, though the government promptly sought USD 2.1 billion from international financial institutes to continue infrastructural projects, agricultural development, as well as to support local production and the working class.
Specifically, the Georgian PM claimed that government health expenditures amounted to GEL 900 million (USD 288 million), support for businesses amid the pandemic reached GEL 3 billion (USD 957 million), while GEL 1.3 billion (USD 414 million) was spent on social protection measures.
Recalling significant infrastructural projects, PM Garibashvili said that about 82% of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway has been completed, with test deliveries already underway. In addition, the Georgian PM said that the construction of the Poti Maritime Terminal “is in its active phase,” while a new terminal has already been added to the Kutaisi International Airport. “The Anaklia Deep Sea Port remains a priority,” he added.
Stressing that the government has allocated GEL 500 million (USD 160 million) for the first stage of its regional development program, PM Garibashvili said that providing natural gas and water supplies to Georgia’s regions is actively ongoing. “Last year and this year, a total of more than 8,300 infrastructure projects were selected for funding under the rural support program,” he noted.
Regarding Georgia’s vaccination efforts, PM Garibashvili said the country is set to receive 4 million vaccine doses by the end of the year, which, he claimed, will suffice to vaccinate 60% of the population as intended by the government’s inoculation plan.