World Bank: 'We are eager to participate in the development of a new strategy of Georgia'
Joint press-conference of the World Bank Vice President for Europe and Central Asia Anna Bjerde and the Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Garibashvili. Photo: IPN.
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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.
PM Garibashvili has tweeted:
Productive meeting w/ Anna Bjerde @WorldBankECA VP. We appreciate WB's swift response to ????????'s needs & its active engagement during the pandemic. Discussed our effective cooperation along with ongoing & future projects, ????????' s economic reform process & our post-pandemic goals.
— Irakli Garibashvili (@GharibashviliGe) June 18, 2021
The new strategy of the country is being written now and in terms of the development of reforms, which the Georgian government so desperately needs, we think our assistance will be relevant. Georgia is a successful reformer and it will soon return to the reform agenda and programme, which we are pleased to support," said Bjerde.
Bjerde stated that the World Bank will help Georgia in the development of the digital economy.
We believe that digitalisation and the digital economy are the areas in which we will help the country. We are already assisting Georgia within the Log in Georgia project, which is very close to my heart. This programme involves the involvement of many thousands of people in high-speed internet, both in rural and urban areas, and this direction needs to be further strengthened", Bjerde said.
She stated that the World Bank is interested in participation in the development of the Georgian economy in general, of supporting the small and medium-sized enterprises in the county as well as environmental protection, climate change, agriculture and other sectors of the country's economy.
The World Bank has tweeted:
Anna Bjerde, @WorldBankECA Vice President, met today with @GharibashviliGe, Prime Minister of #Georgia, to discuss the @governmentgeo's post-#COVID19 plans and how @WorldBank can support Georgia’s journey of economic #reforms while ensuring a resilient & inclusive #recovery. pic.twitter.com/dEFufkOxTB
— World Bank Europe and Central Asia (@WorldBankECA) June 18, 2021
Bjerde also praised Georgia for the 'good management' of the Covid-19 pandemic, stating that 'the country has shown itself from the very beginning, all necessary measures have been taken'.
The European Union has donated 20 pieces of passport readers to further enable the Georgian Ministry of Interior Affairs to combat irregular migration and enhance border security. The devices with a total value of € 22,000 (90,000 GEL) will contribute to training of border control officers.
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.
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.
Half a million people living in almost a thousand settlements across Georgia, including in the highlands, will receive access to internet and services such as e-healthcare, education and governance thanks to a new project called 'Log in Georgia' which was launched today.
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, approved today by the World Bank. The new 'Relief and Recovery for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises' (MSMEs) project aims to help businesses and create jobs by expanding and strengthening programmes that support MSMEs and by promoting digitalisation of Georgia’s economy.
World Bank Vice President for Europe and Central Asia (ECA) Anna Bjerde has stated that many reforms particularly in human capital development and formation of a more green and digitised recovery will be ‘very promising for Georgia in the years to come.’
World Bank will finance the $109 million construction project for a 17-km, four-lane, access-controlled highway in the Eastern Georgia’s winemaking region of Kakheti to facilitate connection between the province and the capital Tbilisi as part of the country’s highway network.
A fresh project funded by the European Union will aim to create an energy regulatory environment for digitalisation in Georgia following its launch by the Georgian National Energy and Water Regulatory Commission, the body said on Thursday.