H.E. Lasha Khutsishvili, Minister of Finance of Georgia and Leslie Bierman Lam, Country Director of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a loan agreement between Georgia and the ADB, which envisages the construction of an approximately 11-kilometer, primarily two-lane highway from Batumi to Sarpi.

The long-term loan amounts to €306.6 million. Under the project, the highway will start from the Batumi bypass road alignment and extend toward the vicinity of the Sarpi border crossing with Türkiye. Key engineering components include a 7.6-kilometer two-way tunnel and a 1.47-kilometer bridge over the Chorokhi River, to be built in accordance with Trans-European Highway standards.

Strategically, the project will enhance regional integration and trade, significantly reduce travel time, and improve road safety standards.

Prior to the signing ceremony, the importance of the project and overall cooperation with the Asian Development Bank were discussed by the Ministers of Finance and Infrastructure, Lasha Khutsishvili and Revaz Sokhadze, along with ADB Country Director Leslie Bierman Lam.

The ministers thanked the ADB Country Director for the support provided and expressed hope that cooperation would continue actively.

The meeting was attended by Ekaterine Guntsadze, Deputy Minister of Finance of Georgia; Mzia Giorgobiani, Deputy Minister of Infrastructure of Georgia; as well as representatives of the Ministries of Finance and Infrastructure and the Asian Development Bank.