Romeo Mikautadze, the Deputy Minister of Economy, said uninterrupted functioning of high-tech corridors was unlikely without energy development, in comments on Georgia’s prospects to perform as a regional data exchange hub.

Addressing the International Digital Connectivity Summit, hosted in Tbilisi, he said new technologies required additional electricity and sustainable transmission infrastructure.

“Generation and transmission of electricity is the main artery of any country"s economy and, together with transport and communication systems, determines its efficiency. Security and stability of the energy system depended on diversification of energy sources and transmission reliability.

The demand for electricity and new generation facilities is growing in Georgia year-on-year. A number of new facilities had been added to the country’s energy system over the past decade, including 55 hydroelectric power stations.

This year we have signed 61 contracts worth USD 704 with investors, which will potentially add 1.6 billion kWh to local generation annually. The first steps are being taken in Georgia for the development of green hydrogen production. Interest in solar and wind energy is also growing”, - said Romeo Mikautadze.