03/12/2013 (Agence Europe) - EIB loan for East-West motorway. On 28 November, the European Investment Bank (EIB) announced that it would lend €30 million to the Republic of Georgia to continue the renovation and increase the capacity of the East-West motorway. This essential road infrastructure links the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, and the country's ports on the Black Sea with Turkey and Azerbaijan. In 2012, the EIB granted a €170 million loan for the financing of this project. The EIB loan will contribute to financing the modernisation and improvement of a 183 km stretch of the westernmost part of the East-West motorway which links Zestaponi and South Batumi, 10 km from the Turkish border at Sarpi. The project is due to be completed by the end of 2017. (OL/transl.fl)