Expert not convinced that Poti tender winner is right choice
By M. Alkhazashvili
(Translated by Diana Dundua)
(Translated by Diana Dundua)
Thursday, April 3
The recent announcement that investors from the United Arab Emirates have won the tender to manage a free economic zone in Poti port has provoked statements of concern from some commentators in Georgia.
Independent MP and former economy minister Lado Papava, who has long stated his opposition to the establishment of FEZs in Georgia, said that the government has made a bad decision.
“Georgian authorities are planning to give the strategic state asset to a company with an obscure past, and I don’t think this will lead to good results,” the newspaper Rezonansi quoted Papava as saying.
Unveiling the tender winner last week Prime Minister Lado Gurgenidze said that the UAE’s Ras Al-Khaimah (RAK) was selected on the basis of its past experience at operating free economic zones and ports.
Independent MP and former economy minister Lado Papava, who has long stated his opposition to the establishment of FEZs in Georgia, said that the government has made a bad decision.
“Georgian authorities are planning to give the strategic state asset to a company with an obscure past, and I don’t think this will lead to good results,” the newspaper Rezonansi quoted Papava as saying.
Unveiling the tender winner last week Prime Minister Lado Gurgenidze said that the UAE’s Ras Al-Khaimah (RAK) was selected on the basis of its past experience at operating free economic zones and ports.