Donor-assisted projects will better Georgia's economy, says Minister

The Georgian Government is ready to work more actively to encourage and support donor-assisted projects to better contribute more to the development and growth of the country's economy, says Georgia’s Finance Minister Nodar Khaduri.

The Georgian official met USAID mission director Stephan Heiken and discussed future cooperation opportunities between the Georgian Government and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The sides also summarized the projects supported by USAID, including the G4G (Governing for Growth) initiative.

The purpose of the G4G activity was to improve Georgia’s economic governance and leadership, particularly in the areas of:

•  weak enforcement of the legal and regulatory framework and its negative impact on small- and medium-sized enterprises; 
• unregulated use of water resources and the resulting threat to the quality and quantity of water available for long-term economic growth and resource-based conflict; and 
• lack of an energy trading mechanism between Georgia and neighboring countries that severely inhibits new foreign and domestic investment into hydro-power production.

The G4G will strengthen the capacity of the Georgian Government's institutions to develop, implement, and enforce reforms and develop the capacity of the private sector and civil society to engage the Government in the development, implementation and enforcement of reforms. 

Key to the success of the G4G will be supporting inclusive and constructive dialogue among government, private sector, and civil society stakeholders.

Heiken mentioned Georgia was a special partner country of USAID and their bilateral cooperation will be continued in the future.