Regional Policy Committee Chair: around ₾2.5bln being invested in regional water supply systems

Irakli Kadagishvili, Chair of Georgian Parliament’s Regional Policy and Self-Government Committee, said about ₾2.5 billion ($930mln) is being invested in the development of water supply systems across Georgia’s regions.

Speaking at an international forum on water issues, Kadagishvili discussed ongoing infrastructure projects in regional municipalities aimed at ensuring round-the-clock access to quality water.

“Georgia is a water-rich country, but providing high-quality water to the population remains a key challenge. Together with our partners, we are achieving tangible results, not only in the capital and self-governing cities, but also in the regions. The state has a clear and targeted policy focused on delivering 24-hour quality water supply to municipalities across Georgia,” he said, noting that the country is midway through the process, partly due to infrastructure inherited from the Soviet period.

Kadagishvili noted significant investments are being made both from the state budget and through donor organisations, with foreign capital playing an important role.

He also highlighted issues related to the quality of project implementation, saying past shortcomings had led to operational problems and affected cost recovery. Efforts are now under way to minimise such risks. Kadagishvili further stressed the importance of regulating irrigation and drinking water tariffs and improving technical water systems, warning that the use of drinking water for irrigation in rural areas reduces overall efficiency.

The international forum was organised by Aqualia and GWP and brought together representatives of the legislative and executive authorities, Tbilisi City Hall, the national energy and water regulator, as well as local and international experts in the water sector.