The United States of America today announced that it has fulfilled its pledge of a $1 billion economic support package for Georgia. The pledge was used to assist assist internally displaced persons, rebuild damaged infrastructure, and help restore investor confidence in the Georgian economy following the August 2008 conflict with Russia.
United States Government (USG) assistance also aims to consolidate and advance the democratic reforms and to assist Georgia’s integration into the Euro-Atlantic community through the implementation of free-market reforms.
The USG also supports Georgia’s efforts to attain energy security by diversifying its energy sources.
AREAS OF FOCUS:
“Peace and Security (P&S)”
Reform, train and equip the Georgian military to meet NATO standards and to support contributions to international peacekeeping and security operations
Improve the capacity of the Georgian Border Police and Custom Service to fight smuggling, increase revenue and secure borders
Increase the skills of Georgian law enforcement officials
“Governing Justly and Democratically (GJD)”
Improve executive, parliamentary and local government capacity, transparency, accountability and citizen outreach
Strengthen judicial independence, legal profession reform, judicial and legal education, and the criminal procedure code
Bolster political party competitiveness, and promote free and fair elections
Strengthen civil society, civic education, and public policy discourse
Support the development of independent media and increase access to objective information
“Investing in People (IIP)”
Increase access to affordable quality health and social services
Support decentralization and accreditation of the education system
Strengthen vocational education in the tourism and road construction sectors
“Economic Growth (EG)”
Promote regulatory reform to foster growth of small/medium-sized businesses
Increase diversification of energy sources and export markets
Restore investor confidence and rebuild infrastructure damaged in the August 2008 conflict with Russia”*Humanitarian Assistance (HA)”
Deliver donated pharmaceuticals, medical equipment and supplies valued at $25M to health care facilities in Georgia
RECENT SUCCESSES:
Helped increase foreign trade, raising GOG’s position on the World Bank’s trading across borders index from 149 in 2007 to 30 in 2010.
Distributed $7.2M worth of humanitarian aid, medicine and supplies to schools and orphanages
Increased parliamentary transparency and accountability by helping develop a parliamentary voting records database.
Returned 8,400 acres of land to productive use following the August 2008 conflict, clearing away over 3,700 items of explosive ordnance.
