On April 22 and 23, Levan Davitashvili, Georgia’s First Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, held meetings with World Bank Managing Director Anna Bjerde and International Finance Corporation (IFC) Regional Vice President Alfonso Garcia Mora in the United States, focusing on strategic infrastructure, private sector financing, and long-term economic cooperation.

On April 22, Davitashvili, joined by Minister of Finance Lasha Khutsishvili and President of the National Bank of Georgia Natia Turnava, met with Anna Bjerde, Managing Director of the World Bank. The meeting, part of Davitashvili’s official US visit, centered on current and future cooperation between Georgia and the World Bank, with a particular emphasis on strategic projects such as the Black Sea underwater electric transmission cable, intended to connect Georgia to the EU electricity grid, and a nationwide internet expansion program to enhance long-term competitiveness. Davitashvili stated, “We have received a commitment to long-term cooperation from the World Bank, which is crucial for the country’s economic growth and overall progress.” He underscored that the collaboration would include both financial and technical support, contributing to infrastructure development, macroeconomic stability, and structural reforms. The Georgian delegation also provided updates on the country’s economic performance, highlighting sustained growth since the post-pandemic period despite external challenges.

On April 23, Davitashvili met with Alfonso Garcia Mora, Regional Vice President of the IFC. The meeting, also part of Davitashvili’s US visit, addressed the IFC’s ongoing and prospective projects in Georgia, with a focus on financing the private sector in sectors such as energy, industry, transport, and connectivity. Davitashvili emphasized that the IFC, in coordination with Georgian authorities, was preparing initiatives to provide loans to small and medium-sized enterprises through local banks and to directly finance large-scale private sector projects, particularly in renewable energy and manufacturing. “Another area of promising cooperation with the IFC is the promotion and development of manufacturing,” Davitashvili noted, specifically highlighting sectors such as mineral fertilizer production and the chemical industry. The parties also discussed strengthening Georgia’s position as a regional digital hub, with the IFC supporting new telecommunications infrastructure and private investment opportunities in this sector. These efforts, it was noted, would stimulate Georgia’s economy, generate employment, and enhance national competitiveness.