The government session was held in Kutaisi today. The president of Georgia and local administration heads attended the session. The President presented one hundred day Kutaisi development action plan. Some of the state agencies will be relocated from the capital Tbilisi to Kutaisi as part of infrastructure development plan. Mikheil Saakashvili said that Chamber of Control - the main state audit agency, as well as Department of Roads and Georgian National Electricity Regulatory Commission (GNERC) should be among the state structures which would be headquartered in Kutaisi instead of Tbilisi. As the President stated mostly the local population will be employed in these agencies. He said that the population should be employed by 100%. The President said that this process will start from tomorrow; he believes that the relocation of central agencies to Kutaisi will help the development of infrastructure in region.
With the initiative of the President of Georgia the state committee will be formed, which will work on the improvement of water supply and creation of new systems in Georgia. The Prime Minister Lado Gurgenidze will chair this committee. According to the same project, the foreign experts will be invited to Georgia. Mikheil Saakashvili stated that Kutaisi and whole Georgia must have running water for 24 hours and before it happens it has no sense to speak about the success of the Georgian government. The President asked the members of the government to direct all resources to once and for all resolve this problem.
"Those credits that Georgia will get and new infrastructure projects should serve the development of water supply infrastructure in cities and villages", stated the President.
He said that Kutaisi gets running water every second or third day and there are regions in Tbilisi, which get running water only for 5 or 6 hours a day.
The President has mentioned that in different regions of Georgia - in Poti, Ajara, Dusheti and others - the improvement of water supply systems has already started.
"We have to create one big state program; I think it will cost billions of dollars in total, but I think it is worth of it - every Georgian family will get running water."
He said that all above-mentioned projects should be fulfilled in the nearest 5 years.
The President of Georgia demanded from the government of Georgia to eliminate age discrimination. He mentioned that this is one of the priorities. He believes that experienced and mature people should be employed. Ekaterine Sharashidze, the Minister of Economic Development will chair the commission, which will control mid-aged and old people's employment process. Mikheil Saakashvili clarified that a 40-year-old lady asked him specific questions about the fact, that people over 40 are not accepted to the jobs. The President believes though, that people over 40 represent the most qualified human resources.
"Huge psychological pressure is undertaken on our population, when we tell a 40 year old person, that they do not have any perspective. If I find out that the head of any agency has such an approach, I will immediately fire them", noted the President.
Mikheil Saakashvili said that private business should be developed by all possible means. He promised the population of Kutaisi that Kutaisi will soon become the second capital of Georgia, and it will be executed within the frames of "100-day city development action plan".
"We need to attract foreign investments to Kutaisi, the citizens of Kutaisi need to be employed by 100%, everyone who wants and can work - must have jobs. Our aim is to execute Kutaisi immediate development 100-day action plan", he stated.
The President mentioned that after 100 days investment projects should be launched, several agencies need to be relocated in Kutaisi and exactly after 100 days the first stage of works of Kutaisi historical center revival should be finished.
"This day should become a big historical start for Kutaisi and whole Georgia".
Besides the President of Georgia tasked the government to invite an international scope conference for business representatives in Kutaisi.
Mikheil Saakashvili also mentioned that the government of Georgia will study the flow of foreign investors' work in Imereti region. He asked Ekaterina Sharashidze to study this issue once again. As the President mentioned the conditions envisaged by contract are not fulfilled.
Also the government has focused on the necessity of infrastructure development in Imereti region.
The President required information about the Kopitnari airport condition from the Minister of Economic Development. Ekaterina Sharashidze stated that Kopitnari airport will become the logistic center of West Georgia. The Minister has mentioned that Kopitnari airport will be included in Poti-Samtredia-Kutaisi plan and Poti free industrial zone.
According to Mikheil Saakashvili's statement after "Bako-Tbilisi-Karsi" railway main line opens, about 10 000 people will be employed in Georgia additionally and the state budget will significantly increase.
The President has mentioned that new jobs will be available for Khashuri, Samtredia, Kharagauli and Tbilisi railway communications. Samtskhe-Javakheti governor Goga Khachidze stated that the base is developing, according to which the project will finish in time. During the execution of the project 3000 people will be given jobs. Approximately 70% of employed will be the local population - approximately 2100 persons. The President stated that Georgia must have lack of workers, not lack of jobs. The President expressed his gratitude towards governors and heads of local administration for successful work done this spring.
"Spring work was mostly successful. The number of tractors should be tripled for the next season and we also need to purchase a required amount of toxin-chemicals, at the same time we need to start preparing for Rtveli "grape collection", noted the President.
According to the President's statement he knows that the population was not satisfied with the amount of money they got for grapes last year. This is why additional market tools need to be developed and state should be able to improve the conditions for the population. "The main aim for the government to make people happy", stated the President.
The President spoke about the creation of new re-training center and development of tourism and noted that the employment of local population should start before the beginning of a new season.
Press Office
of the President of Georgia