2018-07-24
"Unfortunately, environmental policy has been most ineffective - and I would say offensive - over the recent years in the history of our country. All of that requires immediate measures to address the situation and principle steps to be made. Hence, Green Economy will be the most significant direction for us and naturally Tbilisi will play its unique role within the Green Economy" stated Mamuka Bakhtadze, Prime Minister of Georgia at the presentation of the Transport Policy of Tbilisi Municipality.
According to the Head of the Government of Georgia, Transport Policy of Tbilisi has a predominant importance for turning the Green Economy into a successful strategy. He also noted that country has a unique potential within this very important context to turn Georgia into one of the leading countries towards this end.
"We indicated in our economic program that Georgia has two key and most valuable resources: first of all we have people, our citizens and second of all - our most beautiful nature. Hence, Green Economy is our absolute priority. It is the one, which will enable us to advance our economy to a qualitatively new level and the living standards of our population at large. This is one of the most popular and - I would say a highly capitalized area in terms of its potential, which has truly great prospects of development. Most European countries have chosen this path of building Green Economies" noted the Prime Minister of Georgia.
According to the Head of the Government of Georgia, Green Economy Development Strategy will be presented in a few days, thereby elaborating on all its components. He also noted that Tbilisi will have its unique role within the strategy.
"Unfortunately, Tbilisi and Tbilisians have painfully accepted the results of the incorrect - and I would say offensive - environmental policy witnessed in the recent years. This is absolutely unacceptable. Therefore, when we worked on a new policy and new strategy, we were focused on two tasks: how to eradicate the most dramatic results that we currently have towards this end in Tbilisi first of all by staying realistic in our assessments nationwide and how to transform this direction to new rails of advancement and development" stated the Prime Minister of Georgia.
According to him, it has been decided that significant volume of financial recourses are disbursed from the Central Budget to make sure that the current eco-system of Tbilisi gets altered in principle, thus being related to the transport system in this rather inefficient condition.
"I am aware of your attitudes and unuttered thoughts every time a yellow buss passes by you. Trust me, the same ideas come to my mind as well. This issue could not have been addressed within a week or two, though the schedule of works presented by the Municipality of Tbilisi today is - believe me - quite ambitious. Capital cities of even developed countries find it hard to substitute their transport means within the short period of time, aimed by the Municipality of Tbilisi with support of the national authorities" stated the Prime Minister of Georgia.
Mamuka Bakhtadze expressed his gratitude to the Mayor of Tbilisi and municipality staff for their efforts in developing the new transport policy and pledged his full support.
"Transport system will soon be qualitatively different in Tbilisi and truly European" stated the Prime Minister of Georgia in his public appearance today.
Mayor of Tbilisi added from his part that implementation of the announced projects would have been impossible without support of the central authorities, for which he thanked the Head of the Government of Georgia. According to Kakha Kaladze, greatest support in the implementation of announced projects and reforms had been provided to the local authority of the capital city by Mamuka Bakhtadze back when he was the Minister of Finance of Georgia.
Prime Minister's Press Office