GEORGIA TRANSPORT CONNECTIVITY

A framework loan to support the construction and upgrading of selected priority primary and secondary roads to ensure (i) Georgia's global connectivity through the East-West Highway corridor linking the country to Europe and Ukraine through the Black Sea ports, Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan and (ii) local mobility on the East-West Highway connector roads.

The proposed framework loan will support the Georgian government in implementing their 2017-2020 four-year upgrade/construction programme of priority roads throughout the country. The objective is to promote sustainable road infrastructure development providing efficient transportation, enhancing cross border/regional connectivity and ensuring short and long-term benefits for all road users.

Although not located in the EU the projects would be subject to the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Directive (2014/52/EU) and the Birds and Habitats Directives (2009/147/EC and 92/43/EEC). Those projects which would normally fall under Annex I and/or are screened in would require an EIA. The EIA process and approval, biodiversity assessment requirements, social impact and mitigating measures will be further checked during appraisal.

The project will be implemented with other international financial institutions (IFIs), namely the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Bank. The legal/contractual documentation will require the promoter to ensure that any procurement procedures on the sections financed by the Bank are done in accordance with the EIB Guide to Procurement.

This operation is covered by the ELM Guarantee.