World Bank pledges $80 mln to support Georgia’s response to COVID-19 pandemic
This project is a part of World Bank’s broader support for the people of Georgia, and it is the first in a series of three lending operations to be rolled-out over the coming three months. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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The World Bank will provide $80 million to Georgia under the Fast Track COVID-19 Facility to mitigate the health and social impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, announces the World Bank.
The World Bank is also collaborating with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank to provide an additional $100 million under a joint co-finance arrangement.
Through our rapid support we are helping save lives and protect the livelihoods of those impacted by the pandemic during this challenging time. We estimate that the total World Bank Group financing package for Georgia COVID-19 response will be approximately $200 million in new financing, in addition to the approximately $300 million funds in our pipeline for 2020-2021 for projects in support of broader development needs, such as digital connectivity and infrastructure”, said Sebastian Molineus, World Bank Regional Director for the South Caucasus.
See the full comment of Sebastian Molineus here:
Video by the World Bank.
This project is a part of World Bank’s broader support for the people of Georgia, and it is the first in a series of three lending operations to be rolled-out over the coming three months.
The second upcoming operation will help the government cover the unanticipated financing gap and ensure Georgia’s progress in implementing reforms in areas critical for inclusive economic growth. The third intends to support the jobs agenda as well as micro, small and medium-sized enterprises that have been affected by the pandemic.
Molineus praised the efforts of the Georgian government which 'implemented very important projects, had fiscal policy, reserves, worked very well in the direction of inflation', doctors and healthcare workers 'on the frontline who are doing extraordinary heroic job' and the people of Georgia 'who have shown incredible discipline' during COVID-19 pandemic.
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia thanked the World Bank for "additional financial support" in his post on Twitter account:
Grateful to @WorldBank for additional financial support of $80 million. Moreover, we continue our work on the project Log-In Georgia, which will connect more than 700 rural areas to the internet. Together, we will overcome this crisis. Thank you @SMolineus for your efforts!
— Giorgi Gakharia (@GakhariaGiorgi) April 29, 2020
In addition the World Bank also intends to support digital connectivity and infrastructure through the upcoming “Log-In Georgia” project, which will support the government’s plan to connect more than 700 villages to the internet via fiber optic cable networks, which will boost remote learning and overall connectivity essential for livelihoods hampered by pandemic-required social distancing, announced the World Bank.