Georgian Police Dept. Acquire Japanese Hybrid Cars
The Ministry of Internal Affairs is launching the first stage of its police car-renewal scheme. The Japanese Government today handed over electric and hybrid cars at a ceremony attended by the Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili and the Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Internal Affairs Giorgi Gakharia.
Giorgi Gakharia thanked the Japanese government for such a significant contribution to the development of the Georgian police with the Mitsubishi vehicles.
More and more of Georgia’s police are gradually moving to environmentally friendly cars such as hybrids and electric. The Ministry of Internal Affairs has defined the Patrol Police Reform as one of the main priorities for 2018, the introduction of modern standards in the system and improving technical equipment.
In 2015, the Japanese Government handed over Non-Project Grant Aid to the Government of Georgia, aimed at acquiring new generation ecologically safe vehicles. As such, the Japanese International Cooperation Systems (JICs) acquired 96 cars (45 Mitsrubishi Outlander Plug-in Hybrids and 51 Mitsubishi I-Miev Electric Vehicles), which were handed over to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, on the basis of an agreement concluded with the Mitsubishi corporation, 45 hybrid cars have been allocated to the Tbilisi patrol police, and 51 other electric cars in different departments also.
According to Giorgi Gakharia, the Japanese cars are the first step in upgrading Georgian police cars into ecologically safe and modern transport, which will significantly reduce the administrative costs as a result.
The use of new, environmental oriented vehicles by the patrol police is a clear message to the public that the patrol police of Georgia, along with the protection of public order, cares about maintaining a healthy environment.
Representatives of the Government and Parliament of Georgia, Tbilisi Mayor, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Japanese Ambassador to Georgia, Employees of Japan Embassy, representatives of Mitsubishi and other invited guests attended the ceremony.
Translated and Edited by Tamzin Whitewood