2019-07-16
The 2019-2023 Strategy for the Development of Georgia's Mountain Settlements will boost mountain development in Georgia, Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze stated at the briefing before today's Government meeting.
According to the Prime Minister, the authorities set the development of Georgia's mountain areas as a priority five years ago, and adopted the Law on the Development of Mountain Regions. The Head of Government spoke of the achievements of this law.
"The Fund for the Development of the Highlands of Georgia was established with a budget of 86 million GEL for 2016-2019. This amount will used for financing infrastructural, agricultural, and various social projects in the course of four years. Since the law's enactment, about 185 million GEL has been allocated under various social programs, of which more than 23 million GEL issued to almost 15,000 beneficiaries as monetary assistance after the birth of a child, also 82 million GEL in additional pensions, almost 11 million GEL in addition to social packages, more than 12 million GEL in supplemental wages for medical personnel, about 20 million GEL to cover energy-related expenses for 90,000 beneficiaries, also 34 million GEL in supplemental wages for teachers and trainers. Over 300 enterprises and more than 20,000 individuals have benefited from the tax cuts under the law," Mamuka Bakhtadze stated.
According to the Prime Minister, it has been only the initial step, and the Government, together with partners, has developed the new, even more ambitious 2019-2023 Strategy for the Development of Mountain Settlements.
"It is a long-term development strategy that will advance the development of Georgia's highlands to a new level. To make this vision a reality, it is necessary to develop tourism, agriculture, and production in our mountain settlements, also to provide the locals with social assistance through even larger projects, to ensure access to healthcare and other quality services, develop infrastructure, introduce innovative systems, to enhance access to public services, and others. These are our declared goals, and each is backed up by an action plan involving, among others, increased investments in infrastructure, notably in the construction and rehabilitation of ambulance stations, outpatient clinics, kindergartens, schools, water supply and sewage systems, roads, and tourism infrastructure, also the rehabilitation of monuments of cultural heritage, the creation of a unified electronic system, internet connectivity, and others," Mamuka Bakhtadze said.
The United Nations Development Program, and the Governments of Switzerland and Austria, have played a crucial role in the strategy's development, for which the Head of Government expressed sincere gratitude.
"As of today, more than 1,700 settlement enjoy the status of a mountain settlement, and almost 250,000 people are registered as permanent residents of mountain areas. The implementation of the Mountain Development Strategy and Action Plan approved by the Government of Georgia will make a huge difference in the lives of more than 300,000 residents of mountain areas. I am confident that this project will bring about excellent results, and we will all be able to evaluate the work performed," Mamuka Bakhtadze said.