PM: Gov't Aims to Mitigate Impact of Crisis on Business, Create Jobs
"I absolutely had to be here for several reasons. First, a new factory will be built here in Rustavi amid the economic crisis to create 3,000 new jobs," Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia stated during today's event dedicated to the launch of construction of the Kartli Textile factory in Rustavi.
The Head of Government emphasized the creation of new jobs as the Government's main concern today.
"This is our priority today. We all understand that, under the crisis circumstances, the household incomes of our citizens have dropped, we must do everything to minimize the impact on business and create new jobs, while also keeping the existing ones," the Head of Government stated.
He noted that it is of critical importance that after this factory is commissioned, 3,000 new jobs will be created in 4 months. That is a serious achievement for the region and the city.
"Back when I was Business Ombudsman, Adjara Textile was taking its first steps and our cooperation was quite dynamic. After Adjara, there was another in Poti and then in Kobuleti, and now we have a 4th factory, all of which are, in fact, in the vanguard of Georgia's light industry. We all need to understand that we must work this way, sector by sector. This enterprise will manufacture goods for export," he emphasized.
The PM said that the Government's top priority today is to minimize the impact of the crisis on the economy and business and, more importantly, to create new jobs despite the crisis.
"We have been saying it all along, that we must use this crisis as an opportunity. Goods manufactured here will be used and worn by the world's finest national teams and athletes. It will make us proud when a product will read "manufactured in Georgia". We must care for business, care for one another, create new jobs, and empower local production, of course. I congratulate Rustavi's residents on this major achievement," he underlined.
With state support, Kartli Textile will be fully operable in 4 months to employ 3,000 Georgian citizens.
The territory of the factory was handed over to the implementing company by the state. Half of the 20-million GEL investment in Kartli Textile is a loan issued under the Enterprise Georgia Program.
Kartli Textile is owned by Adjara Textile, which also operates three factories in Batumi, Poti, and Kobuleti. Adjara Textile manufactures and exports over 15 million GEL worth of retail products a year, cooperating with such leading international companies as Nike, Adidas, Puma, and others. The company employs 3,500 people.