On 6 April 2010, the Meeting of the Government of Georgia was held in Kutaisi.
Before the beginning of the Meeting, Prime Minister Nika Gilauri touched upon a few important issues.
Said the Prime Minister:
"Continuing our tradition of out-of-town meetings, today we are in Kutaisi, in the second capital of Georgia. We are going to discuss two critically important questions today which will be particularly interesting for our society: the next phase of the education reform, in respect of which our President will be joining us within the next few minutes to make a report. Meanwhile, I'd like to draw you attention to the other question: the projects currently underway in Imereti Regions, the problems we've got there, what we have accomplished this year, and what we are going to do in Imereti Region. I'd like to tell you that this year we are going to invest more than 180 million Lari in the Region - this is quite an impressive figure. Most of the money will go towards construction of the West Highway. This is the road that will connect Zestafoni, Kutaisi and Samtredia to one another and mark a logical completion of the construction of the West Highway. 114 million Lari will be spent on the road. Besides, there are many other important projects we are implementing in Imereti. For instance, the money that we are putting towards addressing the drinking water supply issues will finally total 54 million Lari. This will mark the end of the first phase of the project. However, I'd like to repeat that this will only be the first phase. The second and third phases will be implemented in 2011-2012.
We have had a meeting In connection with Free Industrial Zones and one of the important projects that the private sector is now implementing is a Free Industrial Zone in Kutaisi.
Although progress is a little slower than planned, the job that they are doing is still going ahead. Today, there are over 400 people employed there earning salaries. Under the proposed plan, the construction of the entire complex will commence on 1 August. This means that the products made in the Free Industrial Zone will be assembled from the beginning to the end in Kutaisi to dispense with the semi-finished assembly system now operating. Ultimately, over 1000 people will have been employed already from 1 August. This is quite important for the Region."
After that, Prime Minister Nika Gilauri asked Lasha Makatsaria, Presidential Attorney for Kutaisi, Bagdati, Vani, Zestafoni, Terjola, Samtredia, Sachkhere, Tkibuli, Tskaltubo, Chiatura, Kharagauli and Khoni Rayons to report on the projects implemented and to be implemented in the Region.
"Approximately 112 million Lari is spent on the rehabilitation of the entire roads in Imereti. The length of the road cover is 259 km. Besides, we are working on the gasification project that covers the municipality comprising 16 streets and 27 villages. Overall, 43 million Lari has been allocated to rehabilitate the water supply system across Imereti Region. The rehabilitation will cover a 69-km-long water supply system. The allocation to install outdoor lighting system amounts to about 2,5 million Lari. The project will cover 185 streets, 15 villages and envisages the installation of 4300 bulbs. Besides, we intend to rehabilitate squares and parks, towards which nearly 7 million Lari has been allocated. The rehabilitation of cultural centers and public institutions covers almost all the rayons within the Region and the investment in the area exceeds 4 million Lari.
Fire-rescue centers have been built and renovated in almost all the rayons within the Region. The village program is most important in our Region. For this purpose, 7 million Lari has been earmarked and works are being carried out in some 542 villages depending on the demands of each village population.
As for the particular projects in each particular rayon, I'll start with Tkibuli. We are building a 13-MW heat power plant and expect to complete it by the end of the end. We will have invested 12 million Lari in the project. 100 jobs have been created and more will be created in the future. Pretty soon, we'll rehabilitate an amortized 23-MW power unit in Vartsikhe, in which 22 million Lari has been invested.
We have repaired Bagdati irrigation system, spending 2 million 740 thousand Lari on it. This enables us to fully irrigate the lands fit for farming.
It is also important to mention the agriculture support project that envisages the transfer of tractors to the Region. The center will be based in Samtredia, where 19 tractors have been delivered and are expecting to receive one more tractor and two combines within the next few days. Another project is about attracting tourists to the Region. Private investments made in this area exceed 10 million Lari. I am talking about Kumistavi Grotto that will receive first tourists in summer.
Now a few words about Kutaisi and the projects to be implemented in the city which are of the largest scale and most needed for the city. This is Parliament Building that will have a positive impact on the infrastructure of not only the city but also the entire Region. Besides, the Central Stadium rehabilitation is bound for the end of May that will cost 4 million. It will be a top-level stadium. A sports complex, tennis courts will be developed around the stadium at the cost of 800 000 Lari.
Kutaisi has not had a swimming pool for years. For such traditional city as Kutaisi, it is very important to have one. The project will spend 1 million six hundred thousand Lari to come up with a top-level semi-Olympic swimming pool. Besides, building and almost finishing a gymnasium", Lasha Makatsaria said.
Press Service of the Prime Minister