Renaud-Basso stressed “it is true that international carriers are actively trying to diversify transit routes on the backdrop of Russia’s war in Ukraine, and the demand for the Middle Corridor is growing significantly”. 

According to her, the development of the new routes will open up new opportunities for the Caucasus and Central Asia and benefit the domestic economies of the countries along the corridor.

“We support the government of Georgia to turn the country into a logistics hub by strengthening intra-regional connections. For example, the bank is helping the country’s transport agency to develop and implement a port community system. We also support the digitisation of the Georgian railway and the development of electronic services related to business”, Renaud-Basso said.

While commenting on Georgia’s European Union membership prospects, the bank president said the EBRD welcomed Tbilisi's efforts to move closer to EU norms and regulations as part of the process towards eventual membership.