EBRD to Support Solid Waste Management in Georgia

TBILISI – The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is providing a EUR 10 million (26 million GEL) sovereign loan to Georgia’s Municipal Development Fund as part of a campaign to improve solid waste management throughout 64 municipalities including remote areas of the country.

Georgia’s Finance Minister Nodar Khaduri and the EBRD’s Director for the Caucasus, Moldova and Belarus, Bruno Balvanera signed the loan agreement on July 12.

The project is a significant step towards the implementation of the Georgian government’s plan to modernize the country’s waste management system to European Union standards and help preserve the environment, the EBRD said.

A minimum of 140 new solid waste collection vehicles and approximately 7,000 containers will be included in the project. Khaduri also said the EBRD and finance ministry will cooperate on future ventures.

“I am very happy to sign this agreement, which marks another important successful step in the development of the municipal infrastructure sector in Georgia,” said Balvanera. “Creating better public awareness of the benefits of sustainable solid waste services is an integral part of the project, and we will continue working on a better and healthier environment.”

The EBRD is a leading institutional investor in Georgia. Since the start of its operations in the country, the Bank has invested over EUR 2.73 billion (7 million GEL) into 195 projects in the financial, corporate, infrastructure and energy sectors, with 91 per cent of these investments in the private sector.

Photo: EBRD