On February 17-18 the Prime Minister of Georgia Zurab Noghaideli was in Kuwait with the official visit.
In the framework of visit the Prime Minister of Georgia met the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Prime Minister of Kuwait Sheikh Naser Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, the Speaker of the Kuwaiti National Assembly Jassim Mohammad Al-Kharafi and the Chairman of Chamber of Commerce and Industry Ali Thunayan Al-Ghanim.
Among the issues discussed at the meetings one of the most important was construction of Namakhvani 450 MW coordinated hydroelectric system in Georgia. The project includes construction of 3 hydropower plants (Zhonet HPP, Tvish HPP and Namakhvan HPP). The investment amounts to some 720 million USD. "We have started to work on this project after the last visit when we received the preliminary consent. Here we will continue the work with the Kuwait Fund for Economic Development and, therefore, in some months we will finish the work on the draft contract. The second major component is attraction of the Kuwait's investment capital in various spheres in Georgia. This issue will be discussed at the meeting at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry. I would like to note that at the end of the first day of the visit we are very optimistic. AT this stage we are working on two significant projects. Those are seeking for the amounts required for construction of the autobahn and hydropower plant and attracting private Kuwaiti investment capital", - emphasized Zurab Noghaideli.
Within the framework of his visit in Kuwait the Prime Minister of Georgia met also the Director General of the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development Abdulwahab Al-Bader and Director General of Investment Agency Bader Al-Saad. The negotiations touched on the construction of Namakhvani coordinated hydroelectric system and completion of one more section of Ruis-Agara highway within the year 2008.
"We discussed the details of those projects, consequently was specified what should be made within the next 6 months. Namely, there should be prepared the complete feasibility study, then - the engineering design of the project and from 2009 will start the construction operations. Parallel will take start the concrete negotiations on the package of funding, will be continued the consideration on construction of 12-km section of the highway within the year 2008. During the conversation with the management of the Kuwait investment agency was revealed that it had already entered the economic space of Georgia. Namely, Kuwait investment agency became the holder of 10 5 in TAV (the company engaged in construction of the airport). We discussed three main directions: the banking sector, real estate and tourist infrastructure, Georgian mineral resources", - stated the Prime Minister of Georgia.
During his visit in Kuwait Zurab Noghaideli noted that on December 31, 2006 the Government of Georgia approved the draft law On Making Amendments in the Law of Georgia On the Stay of Foreign Citizens in Georgia. In accordance with the amendments to be made the citizens of some countries, including Kuwait, will have the right to stay in Georgia without entry visa for 90 days. In response, the Kuwait Prime Minister made a decision to enable citizens of Georgia to get a Kuwait visa upon crossing the boarder of the country. Only 34 countries have enjoyed this privilege until now.
Prime Minister's Press Service