Georgia, Tbilisi, December 4 /Trend, N. Kirtskhalia /
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said Sunday at a meeting with the residents of Zugdidi to start construction of a new half-million of the city - Lazika. According to him, this city will become the main trade and economic center of Georgia.
"We decided to base the city between Anaklia and Kulevi, and call it a Lazika. After 10 years in this city will live at least half a million people. This will be the second largest city after the capital of Georgia - Tbilisi. This will the main commercial and economic center in West Georgia, and the main center of Georgia on the Black Sea, "- Saakashvili said.
As the president noted, large-scale work will begin in the next year, a new seaport will be constructed.
"We employ several thousand people to build a new city", - stated the President of Georgia and emphasized that, in connection with the construction of the new city will be a competition for architects. "We have already started negotiations with several major investment groups in Asia and Europe that they have invested in building a new city. I want to encourage all Georgians that they thought about it seriously. I want to encourage people who have left Georgia, and refugees from Abkhazia so they returned and built a new city with us, "- Saakashvili said.
He also opened a project on rehabilitation of Zugdidi Botanical Garden and the Palace of Dadiani. According to him, the city started the rehabilitation works, which aim to become a major center of Samegrelo.
According to Saakashvili, rehabilitation work in the city will begin tomorrow.