Georgia, World Bank sign deal for ‘Log-in-Georgia’ project to provide internet access to half a million people

The project will be carried out by the company Open Net within five years. Photo: Ministry of Finance.

Agenda.ge, 31 Aug 2020 - 15:49, Tbilisi,Georgia

The World Bank will allocate €35.7 million to support Georgia’s digital transformation and finance the project ‘Log-in Georgia’ which aims to increase high speed internet access across the country.

As a result of the project, half a million people living in almost a thousand settlements, including in the highlands, will receive access to internet and services such as e-healthcare, education, governance, says the Georgian Ministry of Finance.

We believe that this project is going to have a major impact, provide opportunities and jobs to the people in Georgia’s regions, and make sure that the economic dualism that exists in the country be further reduced,” said World Bank Regional Director for the South Caucasus Sebastian Molineus.

The project includes three components which are: increased access to affordable broadband internet, promotion of the use of digital services connected to high-speed internet and support to implement the project.

The deal was signed digitally today by Georgian Finance Minister Ivane Matchavariani and World Bank Regional Director for the South Caucasus Sebastian Molineus. Photo: Ministry of Finance.

You can think of telemedicine during the time of COVID, or distance learning or e-learning services to people in the mountainous villages that hitherto have been unable to participate in the schooling where this will now be possible. You can also think of digital financial services and e-commerce, again, that will provide job opportunities to the people in rural Georgia,” Molineus added.

The deal was signed digitally today by Georgian Finance Minister Ivane Matchavariani and World Bank Regional Director for the South Caucasus Sebastian Molineus.

The project will be carried out by the company Open Net within five years.

‘Log-in Georgia’ was developed by the Georgian government and the World Bank in the framework of the national strategy for broadband internet development from 2020-2025.