Georgia plans ‘Dubai-style’ economic zone
New city is expected to hold half million people, but critics say plan is environmentally destructive.
Published On 2 Jul 2012
Georgia has started work on a brand new city on its Black Sea coast.
Built on unoccupied marshes and skirting the Kolkheti National Park, the development-focused Georgian government expects the new city, Lazika, to host half a million people.
The Dubai-style free economic zone will be fuelled by tax breaks for investors and a special constitutional status, but critics say the plan is environmentally destructive and unrealistic.
Al Jazeera’s Rory Challands reports from Western Georgia.
Source: Al Jazeera