Georgia: 2017-2020 strategic plan for rural development presented
The strategic plan for Georgian rural development in the 4-year period 2017-2020, adopted by the Government in December 2016, was presented in Tblisi today. The presentation was made by Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili, who expressed his confidence in the effects the project will have on the economic development of rural areas due to the availability of new technologies and better access to services in villages, where 42% of the Georgian population live.
Launched on the initiative of the Government of Georgia, the Rural Development Strategy 2017-2020 is supported by the European Union, the UNDP and FAO, as part of the European Neighbourhood Programme for Agriculture and Rural Development (Enpard).
The main objectives for the next four years are: growth and development of the local economy; improvement of public and social services; sustainable use of natural resources; and local participation in the development process.
The funds will come mainly from the State budget, which will contribute over 300 million Georgian lari (approximately 112 million euros) in 2017 alone, with the help of international organisations and other donors. Some of the funding will also come from the agencies or funds that are implementing the various projects. The Enpard funds for the development of rural Georgia between 2013 and 2020 amount to 179.5 million euros (77.5 million in 2017).
Uzbekistan: World Bank contract for heat recovery awarded to Turboden
Following an initial award last year, Italian company Turboden has been awarded another World Bank contract to supply a plant worth around 8 million euros to recover the heat dispersed by turbines used at the Shurtan power plant. The end client is the company Shurtanneftegaz, which operates in the gas exploration and treatment sector. The contract is part of the World Bank’s broader financial initiative, Uzbekistan Energy Efficiency Facility for Industrial Enterprises, the main purpose of which is to reduce the energy consumption of industrial processes.
