Projects implemented in Georgia with support of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and matters of future cooperation were discussed by H.E. Lasha Khutsishvili, Minister of Finance of Georgia and Masatsugu Asakawa, President of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) today.
Meeting was held within the scope of the Annual Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group (WBG) and was attended by Giorgi Kakauridze, First Deputy Minister of Finance of Georgia and Ekaterine Guntsadze, Deputy Minister of Finance of Georgia.
Role of the ADB being one of the largest development partners of Georgia in the process of development was once again highlighted at the meeting, as it covers funding for both public and private sectors.
Most productive and highly appreciated cooperation in 2020-2021 was noted in the emergency response to COVID-19, which enabled the country to channel the financial resources received from the ADB to the procurement of vaccines and mitigation of the negative impact caused by the global pandemic.
Dignitaries reviewed the current economic performance of the country. It was noted that Georgia has maintained its reform agenda irrespective of the pandemic and inter alia continues with this process in sectors supported by the ADB.
When discussing the cooperation prospects, attention was paid to the significance of holding the Annual Meeting of the ADB in Georgia in 2024. As commonly known, it should have been held in Tbilisi in 2021, though got postponed to May 2024 due to the global pandemic.
Lastly, the Minister of Finance of Georgia and ADB President expressed hopes for continued partnership in implementing structural and economic reforms of the country.