Gov’t supporting development of innovation, knowledge-based economy - Deputy Economic Minister

Vakhtang Tsintsadze, the Georgian Deputy Economy Minister, on Monday told the Georgian IT Innovations Event, aimed at discussing the importance of information and communication technologies in the socio-economic development of the wider region, that the country’s Government was supporting development of innovation and knowledge-based economy.

The Ministry said Tsintsadze “positively assessed” the discussion platform and noted the event promoted presentation of latest achievements and development progress, facilitated discussion of challenges of the public and private sectors, and helped establish partnerships between participants and ensure sharing of knowledge.

He also highlighted the process of digital transformation in the country with its ongoing and planned projects, including universal implementation of internet service, including promotion of the development of high-speed, accessible internet networks throughout the country.

He also pointed out the training and capacity-building programmes, including for women, ethnic minorities and persons with disabilities, implemented to ensure digital inclusion in the country.

The Deputy Minister emphasised the importance of formation of a digital hub in the country, to provide for the development of broadband telecommunication internet connection infrastructure domestically and in the wider Black Sea region, as well as the formation of regional data centres of international standards to accelerate the digital transformation of the region and bring “significant benefits”.

He noted “great efforts” were being directed towards the integration of the digital market of Georgia with the digital united market of the European Union.

Organised by the ICT Business Council, the 13th edition of the event is hosted in cooperation with the Ministry and with the support of the United States Agency for International Development, the GIZ German Society for International Cooperation and the United Nations Development Programme.

The Ministry added the two-day conference involved delegates from Central and Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus, the Baltic States and Central Asia, and noted an IT competition during the event would reveal and honour the best projects of the year that helped encourage the implementation of innovative projects in the public and private sectors.