BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 29
By Tamilla Mammadova – Trend:
Some 1,000 villages in Georgia will have high-quality internet within the framework of World Bank (WB) Digital Transformation project for Georgia, Trend reports via Georgian media.
The Executive Council of the WB allocated 35.7 million euros for Log-In Georgia Project on use of digital services and access to internet by locals of the Georgian villages.
The Log-in Georgia Project aims to connect people, enterprises and institutions across rural Georgia to high-quality, affordable broadband internet and promote the use of digital services, the World Bank has announced.
About 500,000 locals living in the rural areas and highly elevated settlements will have high-speed internet.
“The World Bank supports Georgia’s objective to improve its economic competitiveness through use of digital technologies and create job places and better opportunities for its citizens,” said World Bank Regional Director for the South Caucasus Sebastian Molineus.
This project will be implemented by the non-entrepreneurial, non-commercial legal entity Open Net over a five-year period, with the support of the Communications Commission under the oversight of the Economy Ministry.
By increasing the coverage of high-speed broadband internet services in rural settlements, the project will help boost the use of digitally enabled services through training and capacity building programs across the country. It will promote digital financial services and e-commerce, as well as online e-government services, as also help promote remote e-learning and telemedicine.
"The support of our international partners and donor organizations, including the World Bank, in the implementation of the ongoing reforms and programs in various sectors of the economy is crucial”, Georgian Economy Minister Natia Turnava said.
She further noted that the World Bank’s support to the Government of Georgia ‘in the context of the crisis and particularly in the measures taken to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, is especially outstanding’.
Georgian Finance Minister Ivane Matchavariani also stated that the government continues its successful cooperation with the World Bank in bringing shared prosperity to citizens and businesses across Georgia.
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