The Chair of the Sector Economy and Economic Policy Committee, Roman Kakulia met with World Bank Regional Director, Sebastian Molineus to discuss the knowledge-based economy, conducted researches on transport corridor and issues related to competitive advantages.

Conforming to R. Kakulia, - “The main purpose of our meeting was to discuss the World Bank portfolio with respect to Georgia, which was agreed in 2018 and includes 11 key areas. At this meeting, it was very important for me to come up with a component that helps the relevant agency drive innovation. Within the framework of the World Bank project, we agreed to conduct the research with the involvement of the relevant institutions, and compile a comprehensive report on the inclusion of scientific research results in economic development processes. We will also study the practices of similar countries, where science, research and technological development have played a leading role in the development of the economy."

The parties discussed the challenges related to the World Bank research on the Transport Corridor. It was decided that the relevant workshop will be held with the participation of all possible agencies and the aim to identify the challenges Georgia currently encounters as a transit hub and transit corridor country.

Issues headed into the negation phase with the former Regional Director of the World Bank, in particular Western practices and technologies for identifying new competitive advantages, were also foregrounded at the meeting - “During the meeting with the previous Director, I asked for the World Bank assistance in explicit application of Western practices and technologies of new competitive advantages to the work of Georgian researchers. This direction is one of those the World Bank is conducting the research and its preliminary results will be soon introduced”, - R. Kakulia remarked post hoc the meeting.

The meeting was attended by the Senior Economist at the World Bank Regional Representation, Evgenij Najdov.