The President of Georgia visited Ureki today, where the construction-rehabilitation works of an 800 meter boulevard have begun.  Mikheil Saakashvili also learned about the new project, which envisions entirely replacing irrigation and sewage systems. As the President noted, the residents of Ureki and visitors will have a filtered drinking water supply 24 hours per day. The Head of State also met with the local population and promised to fix their problems. During the conversation, the President focused on the Guria development plan and the necessity of creating new production facilities.

“In the past a boulevard was built in Batumi and now there is one being built in Kobuleti. Ureki should have a very good boulevard as well. A boulevard is important for tourists, but aside from this a very good irrigation system is being installed here – in this sense Batumi and Ureki will have the best irrigation systems. This year we started rehabilitating the Bakhmaro Resort and Ureki will also be rehabilitated, which means that Guria will have modern sea and mountain resorts. By the way, we are going to build a boulevard in Poti as well, the best one. Right now water is the most important thing for the population. If we build winter and sea resorts of international standards and open production facilities in Guria this region will practically overcome unemployment in a few years. Gurians need a special care from us. This place has everything – mountains, sea, small but productive land, and this is why we need to use everything. You have seen the center for farmers in Ozurgeti, we are now building a road to the boulevard, and if my predictions are correct we should be able to bring twice as many tourists to Guria. This region needs a special hand because it was the most abandoned. This will give us an opportunity for people to open small cafes and shops and they will start earning an income. The new infrastructure will definitely create commercial activity” – stated Mikheil Saakashvili while talking to them.

The project envisions making the boulevard green; decorating of the walkway with tile, lights and chairs of modern European standards as well as the rehabilitation of the center and entrance of the boulevard. Up to 200 people will be employed at the Ureki Boulevard rehabilitation; most of them local residents.

Regarding the irrigation system rehabilitation, preparatory works are already underway. This project will begin in 2013 and end in one year. New reservoirs and pumping stations will be built, rigs and an internal web and a central pipe for drinking water. A sewage filter will be built and sewage channels rehabilitated. The Ureki rehabilitation works are financed by Asia Development Bank and the cost of the project is 17 million USD. The project will employ up to 500 people.