MaximsNewsNetwork: 11 September 2009 - World Bank: Against the backdrop of twin crises - the August 2008 conflict and a global economic slump - the World Bank is launching a new partnership strategy with Georgia to guide its assistance to that country until 2012. Under the strategy, the Bank expects to provide between US$740 to $900 million in financing over four years.
Strengthening Georgia to cope with the fallout from conflict and the global economic downturn is the focus of the World Banks new Partnership Strategy, which will see up to 900 million dollars to Georgia over the next four years.
SOUNDBITE (English) Asad Alam, World Bank Country Director for South Caucasus:
Georgia has to really handle the short term economic crisis and implications of that and in the same time it has to think about its future, what is the future trajectory of growth and what is the future potential for Georgia in the global economy and how best to achieve that. So our strategy is really one that helps the government and the authorities to really handle both of these challenges simultaneously and embark upon a way forward.
Georgia has been targeting assistance to its poorest people with support from the World Bank. Cash helps Medea Darchia pay her electric bill and buy meat once a week. Health vouchers have paid for five operations, including heart surgery.
SOUNDBITE (Georgian) Medea Darchi, Pensioner:
The voucher prolonged my life. Im alive today only thanks to the voucher.
Cash and health vouchers any participating provider will accept are given based on a points system devised by the World Bank, helping to build public trust in government institutions.
SOUNDBITE (English) Sandro Urushadze, Director, Social Service Agency, Labor, Health and Social Affairs Ministry:
It is very important that people understand how we do this, that its fair play and not just the decision of a civil agency or bureaucrat like me.
Georgia has made deep reforms over the past five years in social assistance, the business environment and infrastructure. And Georgias deputy finance minister says the country is nowhere near reform fatigue.
SOUNDBITE (English) Dimitri Gvindadze, Deputy Finance Minister, Georgia:
The major thrust of the reforms we are doing here is unleashing the potential of the private sector, is about the improvement of service delivery.
Last year, the World Bank ranked Georgia number four worldwide in ease of starting a business. Customs and tax laws have been reformed. Importing goods to Georgia is faster and cheaper.
Clearing customs is a formality instead of an obstacle.
SOUNDBITE (Russian) Seiram Shkhaliev, Azeri Truck Driver:
There is no comparison to the way it used to be. Customs paperwork only takes five or six minutes.
Driving the countrys main East-West artery is faster all the time, as the clogged two-lane road becomes a divided, four lane highway.
SOUNDBITE (Georgian) Tbilisi Minivan Driver:
The new road saves a lot of time, and it isnt even finished.
Improving the main transit road and smaller ones is key to Georgias development.
Because construction trucks—and patients—can reach now reach it, this man could build a 54-bed clinic.
SOUNDBITE (Georgian) Dato Gudavadze, Businessman:
Eighty percent of the reason why I am building the hospital right here is because of the road.
Doctors and nurses—many from remote areas—are seeing their clinic rebuilt and re-equipped and are learning new skills through a program supported by the World Bank.
SOUNDBITE (English) Dr. Tamar Mkhatvari, Family Medicine Expert, Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Affairs of Adjarian Autonomous Region:
They are very interested to improve their skills, knowledge and attitudes.
As Georgia works to improve the skills of its people, it also needs to strengthen the foundations needed be competitive and to grow its economy.
MaximsNewsNetwork:
News Network for the United Nations and the International Community.
See: http://www.MaximsNews.com.
"GIVING POWER & RESONANCE TO THE VOICE OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY"
.
Loading...
2:36
Narikala Fortress, Tbilisiby drjohnson98275 views
Link to this comment:
All Comments (0)