Infrastructure Minister visits Ukraine

Georgian Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure, Ramaz Nikolaishvili, visited Ukraine on official business last week.

During his trip, Nikolaishvili met with Ukrainian Vice-Prime Minister Boris Kolesnikov, who also serves as his country's Minister of Infrastructure. They discussed major ongoing infrastructure projects and potential future collaboration. It was agreed that Kolesnikov will visit Georgia soon, in order to sign a memorandum of understanding to deepen co-operation in road and rail infrastructure.

The two men also discussed the construction of the Marabda-Kartsakhi railway, especially as a means of increasing economic activity between the two countries and their neighbours. The ministers agreed that Ukrainian companies will be allowed to bid on tenders announced in Georgia, and similarly Georgian companies could participate in the Ukrainian market.

Kolesnikov noted that he appreciates Georgia's reforms, and said that a close relationship in the infrastructure sector will contribute to enhanced cooperation generally between the two countries.

Nikolaishvili also visited a Sarmat factory, which produces metal for large-scale construction around the world. During a meeting with the president of Sarmat, the minister discussed the metal needed for construction in Georgia this summer. Georgia is currently experiencing a construction boom, with many large-scale infrastructure projects being implemented.