MINISTRY OF ECONOMY
AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
OF GEORGIA

Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Natia Turnava met with World Bank Vice President for Europe and Central Asia, Anna Bjerde, who is paying an official visit to Georgia. Deputy Ministers Irakli Nadareishvili, Davit Tvalabeishvili, Guram Guramishvili, as well as the World Bank Regional Director Sebastian Molineus also attended the meeting.

Ongoing and future projects of the World Bank in Georgia, their usefulness and opportunities were discussed at the meeting. The great role played by the World Bank projects in the macroeconomic stability of Georgia, the construction of civil infrastructure and the implementation of structural reforms was particularly highlighted. 

Georgian National Innovative Ecosystem Development Project (GENIE), which aims to promote the digital economy in the country, was paid a particular attention. The project budget is 23,5 million USD and it is aimed at promoting innovative entrepreneurship, initiating various development programs for them and finding international partners. It was noted that the Covid-19 pandemic increased public demand for digital services, thus making the GENIE project particularly important. Consequently, the issue of continuing the project was raised at the meeting as well.

Another project that Georgia is implementing in cooperation with the World Bank and is aimed at developing the digital economy is the Log-in Georgia project. The meeting positively assessed the development of a national broadband network development strategy by Georgia and an action plan for its implementation for 2020-2025. It was noted that the goal of the project is to take concrete steps to achieve the targets set by the strategy. The Log-in Georgia should facilitate the use of digital services.

The meeting also focused on projects implemented by the World Bank for the development of energy, transport, as well as other sectors of the economy. There was also a focus on structural and economic reforms.

During the visit,  Anna Bjerde  visited the Technopark of the Georgian Agency for Innovation and Technology - Technopark, where she met with the beneficiaries of the World Bank National Innovation Ecosystem Project (GENIE).