Lasha Khutsishvili, Georgia’s Minister of Finance, met with Shomik Mehndiratta, WB's Practice Manager for Transport in Europe and Central Asia, to explore existing and future cooperation in Georgia’s transport infrastructure. The meeting took place during Mehndiratta's working visit to Tbilisi.
According to the Ministry of Finance, the primary focus of the discussions was on investment projects in the road, rail, and broader transport sectors, with special emphasis on the strategic importance of the East-West Highway and the Middle Corridor’s transit potential.
“The meeting addressed current and prospective cooperation between the World Bank and Georgia. The sides discussed major transport infrastructure projects that are critical to Georgia’s role as a regional transit hub,” the ministry's statement said.
The meeting was also attended by Deputy Minister of Finance Ekaterine Guntsadze and Rolande Pryc, the World Bank Regional Director for the South Caucasus.
The World Bank remains one of Georgia’s key financial partners. As of May 2025, Georgia's debt to the World Bank stood at $2.17 billion, making it the second-largest external creditor after the Asian Development Bank.
According to Georgia’s 2025 state budget, the country is expected to take on an additional 132 million GEL in new loans from the World Bank this year. By the end of 2025, Georgia’s total debt to the institution is projected to exceed 6.1 billion GEL.
The growing portfolio of transport-focused investments reflects Georgia’s ambitions to strengthen its position as a critical transit corridor connecting Europe and Asia through the Middle Corridor, a trade route gaining increased geopolitical and economic importance.
