Georgia ready to perform as a regional data exchange hub - economy minister
The Georgian capital of Tbilisi on Wednesday hosted the international digital connectivity summit for the first time. Photo: ministry of economy press office
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Levan Davitashvili, the Georgian minister of economy and sustainable development, on Wednesday said the country was “ready to perform” as a regional data exchange hub.
Addressing the international digital connectivity summit hosted in Tbilisi for the first time, the minister said participants from Europe, Central Asia, South Caucasus and China had discussed Georgia’s prospects for setting up digital connections and data centres.
Pointing to the country’s “favourable geographical location” - in particular as an alternative for logistics and networks on the backdrop of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine - Davitashvili stressed it could serve as a “reliable and shortest connectivity corridor” between Europe and Asia.
The summit has also discussed the Black Sea submarine connection [project], which will allow Georgia to directly connect Europe and Asia in terms of data exchange and lead to establishment of data centres in the country”, said the minister.
Stressing the presence of “all necessary factors”, from compliance of the country’s relevant laws with the European Union legislation and credibility of Georgia in development of the digital economy, Davitashvili said becoming a regional data exchange hub would allow Georgia to attract large investments.
Companies entering Georgia are likely to include Amazon, Google, Apple and many others, and data centres will be organised here with data exchange between the neighbouring countries of the region taking place”, he noted.
Georgia also has prospects to serve as a node establishing internet connection between various Asian countries and Europe via the shortest route", said the minister.
Speeding up the digital transformation is related to the development of all sectors in the country, the official also mentioned, adding it was expected to increase the competitiveness of the country’s economy in general.
The ongoing summit in Tbilisi has been organised by the ministry of economy and sustainable development, the country’s communications commission and the World Bank, and is focused around the development of interregional digital corridors.
The summit is expected to close with the adoption of a joint declaration.
The Georgian Government will officially unveil its 2030 development strategy for the country in the coming days after approving the document, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said while announcing the document involved focus on healthcare, education, strengthening of democracy and other areas.
The number of internet subscribers increased by 4.3 percent year-on-year and exceeded over one million in Georgia in 2021, the Communications Commission of Georgia announced on Wednesday.
World Bank Regional Director for the South Caucasus Sebastian Molineus has stated earlier today that Georgia can be a strong leader ‘not only in the region but globally as well’ in regional connectivity and integration following the meeting with the Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili.
The European Union (EU) will allocate €3.9 billion to help Georgia improve transport and logistics connectivity, announces Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili after the meeting with European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi today. The €3.9 billion aid package consists of a €1.17 billion grant and the rest is a loan.
Romeo Mikautadze, the deputy minister of economy and sustainable development of Georgia, on Wednesday said uninterrupted functioning of high-tech corridors was unlikely without energy development, in comments on Georgia’s prospects to perform as a regional data exchange hub.
The significance of the telecommunications sector in utilising digital potential and inter-regional digital corridors for Georgia were raised by Ekaterine Imedadze, a member of the country’s state communications commission, at the international digital connectivity summit in Tbilisi on Wednesday.
The Georgian national communications commission is hosting the Youth Internet Governance Forum on the weekend for the first time in Georgia, which aims to inform young people about the internet sphere, information security and communications sector, and encourage their involvement, the commission said.
Ekaterine Imedadze, the member of the Communications Commission of Georgia, highlighted the country’s potential as a regional digital service hub in comments at the Four-lateral Summit, a joint event of four networks of electronic communications regulatory authorities in Portugal.