The FINANCIAL — The Internet is already available in 24 villages and 4 gorges of Tusheti – the project was implemented by the NNLE Tusheti Development Fund with the support of the Internet Society (ISOC). The project is supported by the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia.
“Providing access to the Internet, especially in the regions, is one of the priorities of the Georgian Government and providing the Tusheti Region with the Internet was a part of this program. There are many different parties involved in this project, including the US-based nonprofit foundation ISOC, which has a direct contribution to this project and the Tusheti Development Fund, which, besides ‘Internetization’, has done many useful things in this region. Now we have high quality, fast internet in Tusheti, which will support the socio-cultural development of this much closed region. It will also help to illustrate the quality, the mood and the attitudes towards the tourists visiting Tusheti,” – the Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, Giorgi Gakharia commented on the issue.
Giorgi Cherkezishvili, the Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, got acquainted with the accomplished works in Tusheti. The Deputy Minister, together with the Governor of the Region and the representatives of the GNCC, the Tusheti Development Fund and the ISOC, examined the relevant infrastructure and met with the local population and business-operators, according to Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia.
Giorgi Cherkezishvili highlighted that the Innovations and Technology Agency of the Ministry of Economy provided the special trainings for the locals as well as the relevant technical assurance. “We have 29 beneficiaries who received a single-usage voucher of 150 GEL and the financing to ensure the presence of their businesses on the internet. They also have received special knowledge to be able to connect with international networks and get additional tourists to their local hotels,” – Giorgi Cherkezishvili said.
At this stage, seven masts are already installed in Tusheti and the transit points are marked as follows: the mast of Ruispiri (village), with the optical line (Frainet Company, Kakheti Region) and Abano Pass, where the free Internet access point is installed.
“This project is very important, especially in terms when the Tusheti Region is virtually cut off from the outside world for 7 months a year. The project already has 40 beneficiaries –mainly hostels and family-type hotels, which will be able to attract tourists through the Tusheti Region. The government has a very ambitious and consistent plan regarding the development of the Tusheti Region and so called internetization is one of the crucial parts of that plan,” – the Governor of the Kakheti Region, Irakli Kadagishvili noted.
The ISOC is a non-profit organization whose main function is to promote Internet development and ensure its availability. The total cost of the project equals to 40 000 USD and 20 500 GEL.
