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EBRD supports Georgia’s public transport sector

Finance Materials 29 November 2019 17:03 (UTC +04:00)
EBRD supports Georgia’s public transport sector

BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 29

By Tamilla Mammadova – Trend:

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is extending a 17-million euro sovereign loan to Georgia, Trend reports referring to EBRD.

This loan will be on-lent to the Municipal Development Fund of Georgia (MDF) to purchase 175 new buses for six cities – Gori, Kutaisi, Poti, Rustavi, Telavi and Zugdidi - to help rehabilitate outdated municipal transport.

The project is part of the Bank’s broader engagement in Georgia’s public transport sector, with investments tailored to the needs of cities to support reforms and achieve sustainable operations with low-emission technology.

Replacing outdated bus fleets with modern low-floor, low-entry buses is expected to have a considerable environmental and social impact. With the new Euro 5 diesel buses, emissions should be reduced by 34 percent.

The project also will help Georgia to align with the EU standards, ensuring environmentally friendly, efficient and safe transport systems and promoting the use of clean, energy-efficient vehicles while also enhancing the qualifications of drivers.

In addition, EBRD will provide technical cooperation funding aimed at training and promoting women to bus-driver roles.

As reported, this “gender action plan” will make recommendations for safe, accessible and inclusive transport that integrates the different needs of men and women in urban transport services. Technical training programs will equip employees with the necessary skills.

“Strengthening Georgia’s transport sector, especially in the regions, is of paramount importance to EBRD,” said EBRD Regional Director for the Caucasus Catarina Bjorlin Hansen.

EBRD is a leading institutional investor in Georgia. Since the start of its operations in the country, the bank has invested over 3.5 billion euro in 237 projects in the financial, corporate, infrastructure and energy sectors, with 89 percent of these investments in the private sector.

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