World Bank bolsters Georgia’s vaccination rollout with $34.5 mln
Through this support, the World Bank will contribute to the Georgian government’s plan to vaccinate 60% of the adult population by the end of 2021. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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The World Bank has approved $34.5 million in additional financing today to support Georgia’s efforts to provide affordable and equitable access to Covid-19 vaccines, and ensure effective vaccine deployment in the country by strengthening the vaccination system, announces the World Bank.
The additional financing will help with the acquisition and deployment of Covid-19 vaccines, including syringes and other supplies, vaccine logistics and distribution, planning and management, vaccine-related communication and outreach, training, and overall health system strengthening.
Through this support, the World Bank will contribute to the Georgian government’s plan to vaccinate 60% of the adult population by the end of 2021.
The pandemic has placed a great burden on the country’s economy, its people and firms first and foremost, and a strong vaccination plan is crucial for a fast and resilient recovery in Georgia, and most importantly, for saving lives", said Sebastian Molineus, World Bank Regional Director for the South Caucasus.
This financing is part of the $80 million Georgia Emergency Covid-19 Response Project, approved in March 2020 with the purpose of helping the country address and mitigate the health and social impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The latest ‘Europe and Central Asia Economic Update’ published by the World Bank reads that the Georgian economy is unlikely to recover to pre-Covid levels until late 2022. The World Bank says that the Georgian economy is projected to expand to 4% in 2021 and then to firm to 5% in 2022.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has approved the second Chinese Sinovac vaccine for emergency use in all countries, giving the green light for this vaccine to be rolled out globally, including in Georgia.
Air pollution in Georgia contributed to more than 4,000 lives lost, while its economic costs were estimated at $560 million, or 3% of gross domestic product (GDP), reads the World Bank report 'Georgia: Towards Green and Resilient Growth, that estimates losses associated with pollution and degradation of agricultural and forest land and coastal zones.
About 6,000 micro, small and medium sized enterprises in Georgia impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic are to benefit from €85 million in financing support, thanks to an agreement signed between the World Bank and the Ministry of Economy of Georgia was signed on May 17.
Georgia has reported 821 new cases of coronavirus, 866 recoveries and 31 deaths in the past 24 hours. 38,478 tests were conducted around the country in the past 24 hours. 23,864 of the 38,478 tests were rapid tests, while the remaining 14,614 were PCR tests. The country has had 351,249 cases of coronavirus since February 26, 2020. 2.77 per cent of tested individuals had Covid-19 in the past 14 days.
The Georgian economy is projected to grow 6% in 2021, 5% in 2022 and again 5% in 2023, says the June edition of the World Bank’s report Global Economic Prospects 2021.
Georgia has reported 705 new cases of coronavirus, 1,128 recoveries and 14 deaths in the past 24 hours. 33,253 tests were conducted around the country in the past 24 hours. 19,138 of the 33,253 tests were rapid tests, while the remaining 14,115 were PCR tests. The country has had 351,954 cases of coronavirus since February 26, 2020. 2.75 per cent of tested individuals had Covid-19 in the past 14 days.
The French Development Agency (AFD) is planning to lend about €483 million to Georgia through the new partnership agreement signed for 2021-2023 between Georgian Finance Minister Lasha Khutsishvili and AFT Regional Director for Eurasia Cecile Couprie today.
Georgia has reported 695 new cases of coronavirus, 797 recoveries and 16 deaths in the past 24 hours. 37,842 tests were conducted around the country in the past 24 hours. 23,931 of the 37,842 tests were rapid tests, while the remaining 13,911 were PCR tests. The country has had 352,649 cases of coronavirus since February 26, 2020. 2.67 per cent of tested individuals had Covid-19 in the past 14 days.
The World Bank Vice President for Europe and Central Asia Anna Bjerde, who is visiting Georgia, has announced that the World Bank is eager to participate in the development of a new strategy for Georgia after the meeting with the Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili today.