Georgia plans ‘Dubai-style’ economic zone

New city is expected to hold half million people, but critics say plan is environmentally destructive.

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