Matchavariani: Georgia Can Host ADB Annual Meeting at High Level
“Georgia has all the capabilities to host the Annual Meeting of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) at a high level in 2021 or 2022,” said Ivane Matchavariani, Finance Minister of Georgia, while discussing the prospective of Georgia holding the Annual Meeting of the Bank. The given statement was made by the Minister at the negotiations with Takehiko Nakao, the President of the ADB, taking place within the scope of the 52nd ADB Annual Meeting. He also noted that Georgia has already made an official request.
Matchavariani claimed that holding an event of such a scale in Tbilisi would represent an important chance for Georgia to demonstrate its capabilities and to show off the implemented reforms. He focused on the fact that the country successfully hosted the Annual Business Forum of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in 2015.
The Finance Minister expressed his gratitude to the ADB Administration for the firm support the Bank shows to Georgia in terms of launching new reforms and in the direction of the country’s road infrastructure development.
At the meeting, the parties accentuated the aspect of the 2019-2021 cooperation, underlined the education sphere, including the involvement of the ADB in the professional education reform and development of human capital.
The Administration of the ADB positively evaluated the ongoing and already implemented reforms in the country. The increasing potential of Georgia in terms of tourism sector progress was also noted.
Within the framework of the ADB Annual Meeting, the Finance Minister participated in the Central Asia Region Economic Cooperation Program high-level meeting, dedicated to aspects of tourism sphere development.
At all the meetings held during the visit, the representatives of the Bank accepted the positive dynamics of the bilateral partnership and expressed hope for its fruitful continuation.
Georgia has been a member of the Asian Development Bank since 2007. The funding allocated by the ADB for the projects in Georgia so far amounts to $2.8 billion.
Translated by Ketevan Kvaratskheliya