Minister: Georgia to spend over half a billion dollars on infrastructure projects in 2013

Georgia, Tbilisi, Jan. 9 / Trend N.Kirtskhalia / Some 910 million lari ($ 1 = 1.66 lari) will be spent on Georgia's infrastructure projects in 2013, Georgian Regional Development and Infrastructure Minister David Narmania told reporters on Wednesday. "2013 will be full of different projects," Narmania said. He said of this amount 501 million lari will be spent on road reconstruction and highway construction, 130 million lari - rehabilitation of water supply system in 25 municipalities, 180 million lari - the events of Municipal Development Fund in various regions. As stated by Narmania, the ministry's real budget spending reached 720 million lari in 2012. Projects aimed at improving governance are also planned this year, firstly, those on development of geographic information system covering all infrastructure projects, their status, and so on, the minister said. "This will facilitate our project management. In 2013, we will complete the methodology of priority selection, efficiency and quality of these projects will be increased through strengthening the financial audit, on the one hand, and control of National Bureau of Expertise named after Samkharauli over the quality of infrastructure projects, on the other. It is important to note that a territorial reform will also be launched this year," Narmania said. The minister went on to say that the ministry is actively collaborating with the parliamentary committees on legal affairs and on self government, and an advisory board of non-governmental organizations was established, which defined the strategy for 2013. He added that work on a package of legislative amendments will begin in February. Do you have any feedback? Contact our journalist at agency@trend.az