“We are in constant communication with business representatives and companies actively involved in infrastructure projects. A robust business sector fosters a strong economy, which serves as the foundation for the country’s development. Given the numerous projects underway across the nation and certain issues with unfulfilled commitments, we aim to establish a proper system for communication between the state and the business community,” said the Minister of Infrastructure, Revaz Sokhadze, in the editorial column of Business Insider Georgia.

As the Minister pointed out, regular meetings are held where stakeholders exchange views and address problematic issues. Among these, he highlighted a recent gathering attended by the Prime Minister, his Ministry’s team, and representatives of companies engaged in implementing state infrastructure projects.

Sokhadze emphasised that quality concerns remain a primary challenge in project delivery, necessitating a shift to new standards and approaches.

“We want to develop an effective communication system between the state and business. One of the areas we are revising is the so-called whitelist, whose principles are currently under review. Additionally, we have examined the projects we oversee and assessed the current situation. There are regrettable instances where large advances are paid out, yet obligations are not fulfilled. Our goal is to insulate the country from such risks, ensuring that the state receives a quality product at a genuine price,” Revaz Sokhadze explained.

The Minister also noted that concrete steps have already been taken to regulate construction standards. The Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development is actively involved, and in the near future, Georgia will adopt new Eurocodes and standards that will guide construction practices.

“It is certainly unacceptable that, when implementing projects today, we rely on norms established in 1982-83. Going forward, communication with the business sector will be highly proactive. My primary responsibility, as Minister, and that of our Ministry, is to safeguard the interests of the state. There are many shortcomings, including in the quality of execution, and we are not prepared to compromise on this front. We will do everything necessary to ensure the state receives a product that meets modern standards. I also urge companies to work actively in this direction; without their cooperation, our efforts cannot succeed,” concluded Revaz Sokhadze.