2023-09-04
We wish to build a new, modern airport at the premises of a historic airdrome in Telavi. Design and construction works will commence this year and we also wish the airport to admit the first passengers in May-June 2024. It was announced by Irakli Garibashvili, Prime Minister of Georgia at the Executive Government Meeting today.
According to the Prime Minister, there will be 6 modern airports in total within the country, while Telavi Airport will create an additional attraction for visitors and citizens alike.
"One more topic that we will be considering and approving today is related to Telavi Airport. You may well be aware that a historic airdrome existed in Telavi and we wish to create a new, modern infrastructure at its premises by building a new, modern airport to give life to Telavi Airport. We will be commissioning the design and construction works this year and I want the airport to admit its first passengers in May-June 2024 or thereabouts. It will be done very efficiently.
Almost 25 MLN GEL is allocated, while the project may cost 25-30 MLN GEL. Now the main idea is to fully renovate and have a landing/take-off lane extended to 1700 meters, modern navigation systems will be arranged, the entire infrastructure will be renovated and new parking lots will be created, along with comfortable spaces for passengers. Modern airport will exist in Telavi. It means that not only our citizens, but visitors will be able to fly comfortably during the day and travel between Telavi and Batumi, Mestia, Ambrolauri or Kutaisi. It is essential for the development of domestic flights and nation-wide aviation. Government has allocated support towards this end and we have been helping local companies for years now. We will be extending our support towards this end and will have 6 modern airports in total in the country. Telavi Airport will create an additional attraction for visitors and our citizens by making the air travel further more comfortable and efficient" stated Irakli Garibashvili.
As the Prime Minister of Georgia noted at the Executive Government Meeting, the quantity of passengers served at Kutaisi Airport is close to a historic maximum and it is intended to extend the landing/take-off lane to 3.5 km.
"Tourism is developing in an active manner. We generated 4.5 BLN USD last year, while expecting more this year. Also, I wish to say that the quantity of passengers served at airports in general and at Kutaisi Airport in particular is close to a historic maximum. Number of flights has been increased and dozens are added to every destination. We had a discussion on Kutaisi Airport and decided to extend its landing/take-off lane, thereby designing and building a new one with an extra 3500 meters, i.e. the new one will be 3.5 kilometers long. Infrastructure will be arranged in a much better way. It is essential to be done. We will soon have a million passengers served at Kutaisi Airport. Passenger statistics will reach a million soon. That is why adequate attention needs to be paid to Kutaisi. We are starting blueprints now and a new landing/take-off lane will be done and completed in 18 months with relevant infrastructure" added the Head of Government of Georgia. According to him, high economic growth will be continued as a result of the right policies.
"We have very important topics in the agenda of the government. I wish to single out several and share information about them to the public. Prior to that, I wish to make an overview of the economic stance in our country.
I wish to tell you that high economic growth prevails. It reached 7.2% in January-July. It was a challenge not only for our country, but the entire world. It should be noted that we made rather effective steps to regulate the inflation and to significantly lower it. In August, it dropped to 0.9%, which is still a quite big challenge for Europe and USA, as the entire developed world is struggling with massive inflation and high prices.
High intensity is witnessed in general in the business sector. Let me tell you for instance that business turnover increased by 15% in Q2 and reached 48 BLN GEL, while in two quarters it exceeded 92 BLN GEL in total. It is very gratifying and demonstrates that the private sector is following us. Greater confidence, predictability and foreseeability exists in the country. We should, of course, maintain it in the country and continue growth at a high speed" noted the Prime Minister of Georgia.
According to the Head of Government of Georgia, high economic growth will require adjustments to the State Budget and will need to incorporate interesting initiatives and new projects.
"Due to the fact that we have a high economic growth, we will need to adjust the State Budget. We accumulated higher revenues in the country. Later we will approach the Parliament to approve a Draft Budget Supplement. We also started to budget for 2024 already. We will have interesting initiatives and new projects in the pipeline. Large projects are anticipated, such as Anaklia Port Project, design and construction of a new airport, etc. We wish to construct large projects and hydro power plants (HPP) with our co-participation, such as Khudoni and Namakhvani in the making. We have come to the final phase of Nenskra and concluded an MOU. We expect to resume the field work at the end of the year or in 2024 at the latest. Thus, it is our plan, my friends. It requires peace and stability to be maintained as it all leads to a greater prosperity" stated Irakli Garibashvili.
The Prime Minister of Georgia spoke about the job creation and noted that the private sector led to the creation of 42 000 jobs in Q2 totaling to 737 000, which is very gratifying. As the Head of Government of Georgia noted, the unemployment level has been reduced to its historic minimum in general.
"Poverty level has also been dropped to its historic minimum, while international reserves of the country are at their historic maximum with 5.5 BLN USD. It means that the country is becoming stronger, is developing and becoming richer. It all needs to be maintained. Of course, it was not accidental. It resulted from our right policies; this speed needs to be maintained and further intensified.
Also, I wish to tell the public that we will be closely monitoring the inflation level. As I already told you, the current inflation level is 0.9%. It means that we keep it under the benchmark of the National Bank of Georgia set at under 3%. Prices on e.g. fuel, medication, food, common consumption products are dropping and we are regularly checking them. I had a discussion several days ago with the Head of Competition Agency and I asked him also to double-check whether profit margins are set in an integral manner on key consumption products.
We will continue doing so and will be coordinating our actions with the National Bank of Georgia" concluded Irakli Garibashvili.
Press Service of the Government Administration