The Parliament heard the Vice Prime Minister, the Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, Levan Davitashvili within the Ministerial Hour. The Minister reported on the activity for 2022, dwelling on various directions.
“Georgia managed to not only maintain economic sustainability but achieved economic growth two years in a row – 10.5% in 2021, and 10.1% in 2022, and these positive dynamics progress in 2023. The hereof data manifest the sustainability of our economy against the foreign shocks”, - he stated.
According to him, the unemployment and poverty indices were at a historically minimal level in 2022. The Minister concentrated on the priority directions of his institution and noted that the support of the private sector, business facilitation and tourism remain the strategic directions.
As he noted, the priority of the Government is to ensure economic integration with the EU and bilateral economic relations. In this context, the Government keeps the legal approximation with the EU. The Minister emphasized tourism and economically and socially beneficial projects. Per his information, 5.5 million tourists visited Georgia in 2022. In view of the diversification of the touristic base, cooperation with China is being enhanced.
“Based on the Governmental decision, two new international airports are to be built in Tbilisi. The project is scheduled to be launched in 2024. Kutaisi International Airport will be supplemented by a new wide runway of 3.5 km. length. to serve the aircrafts of any size”.
Speaking about transport, the Minister noted that the Anaklia Deep-Sea project is actively implemented. The railway reform is being undertaken in line with the EU legal acts along with the establishment of the railway system of a European model. At that, we launched a reform of domestic passenger transportation, which includes the certification/licensing of the bus stations and transporters.
Significant steps have been taken for the improvement of the social and labor rights protection of the sailors. The Minister dwelt on the importance of energy independence and underlined that the 4 high-capacity hydropower stations project is under development.
“Current geopolitical developments revealed the importance of energy safety and energy independence, which constitute key directions of our economic policy. In the energy sector, we enjoy significant progress. According to the last 9 months, the local generation exceeded 11.1 billion kW/h and achieved the historical maximum in the history of independent Georgia”.
According to the Minister, yet another priority of the economic policy envisages the improvement of the pension system and development of the insurance sector.
“The reforms and events I mentioned today are directed to the improvement of the life conditions of our citizens and eradication of poverty. The hereof reforms, projects, effective regulations and progress in economic growth are the best ways to ensure our EU integration and condition the increasing role of Georgia in the global supply chain and trade relations”, - the Minister stated.
