Government doubles funds allocated to support rural development
Georgian PM Bakhtadze announces more than 1,000 villages have already chosen their priorities. Photo: By The Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure
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Residents of Georgian villages will receive twice as much funding as was previously allocated within the within the framework of a special government programme aimed at supporting rural development in Georgia.
The amount allocated for the programme has been doubled to 40,000,000 GEL (approx. 15.063.643 USD/13.135.426 EUR). The decision was made because of the active involvement of the rural population and their needs, Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze said.
“Practice has made it clear that villages are aware of local needs and requirements. More than 1,000 villages have already chosen their priorities and particular projects to be financed”, Bakhtadze said.
Within the framework of the programme, the rural communities of 3,700 villages all over the country will decide with the government what projects are most important for their particular area by 1 March 2019.
Locals to choose how to spend the budget
A government programme aimed at supporting rural development across Georgia has resumed after a two-year pause.
The Georgian government will continue to support Georgia’s high mountain regions to improve infrastructure and conditions for those living there in a bid to reduce migration from rural areas to the city.
A total of 66 million GEL will be spent on developing mountainous regions in Georgia, to improve infrastructure and conditions for those living there. The money is allocated by the National Council for Mountain Development and the Fund for the Development of the Highlands of Georgia will be spent on projects that are included to Georgia’s new mountain development strategy.
The government of Georgia is redoubling efforts to avoid the reduction of population in mountainous areas of the country, initiating an increase of the list of high mountainous settlements and accordingly the number of beneficiaries of the Mountain Law.
Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze has praised the government’s rural support programme, aimed at supporting rural development across Georgia and said this is “one of his favourite programmes”.
A total of 28 projects have been completed in six Georgian municipalities through a government programme that aims supporting rural development.