Georgia

The Initiative aims to extend the benefits of the EU’s Digital Single Market to Georgia and other Eastern Partnership countries, channelling EU support to develop the potential of the digital economy and society, in order to bring economic growth, generate more jobs, improve people’s lives and help businesses.

In particular, through EU4Digital, the EU will support Georgia in the gradual reduction of roaming tariffs and further harmonisation with EU roaming tariffs, in developing and implementing high-speed broadband to boost the economy, and harmonising digital framework programmes across society in areas ranging from electronic logistics to health, cyber security, and digital skills.

Through this support to the Georgian government, the EU hopes to see not only a stronger digital economy, but also the boost it will give areas where Georgia has potential to grow, such as business, entrepreneurship, tourism, ICT industry, or innovation. The EU’s support also ties into and complements the ongoing work of the government’s Broadband Development Strategy.

In addition to EU4 Digital, the European Union also supports the digital economy and society in Georgia through a number of bilateral projects:

• Supporting the Georgian National Communications Commission in developing its electronic communications regulatory framework and operational capacities in line with the EU regulatory framework (twinning).
• EU4Security, Accountability and Fight against Crime in Georgia (SAFE project).
• Trust & Security project under Data Exchange Agency (twinning).
• E-services for Civil Service Bureau (twinning).
• Support to e-governance.

The digital agenda is a key priority for the government of Georgia. The ‘Georgia 2020’ Social Economic Development Strategy outlines several target areas to enhance the digital ecosystem, including High-speed Broadband Internet for future development, e-Literacy and Capacity Building, Innovation and High-Tech, and e-Government.

The government has set a target to provide high-speed broadband internet access to all populated areas by 2020, and to ensure that all schools, libraries, municipalities, post and police offices and hospitals are connected to high-speed infrastructure.

Georgia has also set a target to have 40,000 qualified export-oriented IT and innovation specialists in the country by 2020.

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