Ajara - New Investment Opportunities
Exclusive Interview
In recent years, Georgia has made major steps forward in the development of the tourism industry. Due to the diversity of landscapes, there are a wide variety of destinations for tourists to choose from in the country. The region of Ajara, officially known as the Autonomous Republic of Ajara, represents one of the most outstanding among the wide assortment.
The Government of Ajara consistently puts a lot of effort into improving the regional infrastructure and services offered to investors and visitors. A new investment project initiated by the Ministry of Finance and Economy of Ajara aims at the restoration and development of the territory adjacent to Gonio Fortress, located at the mouth of the River Little Chorokhi.
GEORGIA TODAY met with the Minister of Finance and Economy of Ajara, Jaba Phutkaradze, to find out more about the activities that are planned within the scope of the Gonio project.
What has the economic condition of the region been this year in comparison with 2017?
Ameliorated, without a doubt. First, all the macroeconomic indicators and parameters of the region are incremental. Our team has had a number of meetings and negotiations with both local and foreign investors. All of them have positive views about the future of the development of the region and, most importantly, they trust the free investment environ of Ajara. We’re strongly motivated to maximally maintain the given authority of being a trustworthy and reliable partner.
How high is the potential of the region of Ajara in terms of tourism development?
The Ajara region saw nearly 2 million tourists visiting between January and November 2018.
Ajara is a region with very high potential for further development and there is a lot of evidence to justify this statement. There are several major projects being implemented in the region. Just a few days ago, Czech and Slovak investments were launched in Kobuleti, worth approximately 40 million GEL in total. There is also an increasing trend of investments in Batumi and we have recently commenced working on a project developing Gonio. We aren’t only aiming at improving the coastline and major cities of the region: the progress of the highland municipalities of Ajara represent one of the primary priorities for our government. The Goderdzi mountain resort is being intensively revitalized. Even though there was to be only one phase of development, due to the high demands of investors, we launched a second phase of restoration which comprises the development of more than 200 hectares.19 investment projects are in progress right now and the total sum of investments will reach approximately 133 million GEL.
What is the role of the Gonio project in the development of Ajara’s economy?
This initiative will become a significant source for attracting investors, increasing the income budget of the region and growing the rate of employment. The investments in the private sector have led to the over-fulfilling of the budget of 2018 by 20 million GEL, which helped the growth of the average salary and the rate of employment [in Ajara]. The number of work places increased by 8% in 2018, in comparison with the previous year.
Why was Gonio selected for development?
We are focused on the significance of launching new locations with the prospective of further growth and development. Gonio has the potential to become a center for mobilizing the majority of investments and at the same time can serve as a wonderful place for tourists. Gonio is located on the coastline and is close to the city of Batumi, making it very comfortable for visitors to stay in.
The project comprises creating a modern development plan of 48 hectares of the territory adjacent to Gonio Fortress, which will include recreational zones, hotels with high standards, premium class houses, sport areas, commercial, shopping and entertaining centers and a yacht club. The renovated Gonio will have all the facilities for tourists to have a pleasant, comfortable and amusing stay in Ajara.
By Ketevan Kvaratskheliya