MINISTRY OF ECONOMY
AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
OF GEORGIA

Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, Inga Pkhakadze, participated in a meeting titled “Obtaining a Cybersecurity/Information Security Certificate and Discussions for Energy Agencies” which was jointly organized by the Electricity System Commercial Operator (ESCO) and the World Bank’s Energy Group. Donor partners, representatives of the government, and the private sector participated in the consulting and informational discussion.

In her opening remarks, Inga Pkhakadze spoke about the role of the government’s policy in the security of the energy sector, as well as the growing importance of cybersecurity for the electricity and gas markets and transmission infrastructure. The Deputy Minister emphasized the importance of cooperation with the World Bank in strengthening cybersecurity and the awarding of the ISO 27001 certificate to ESCO to ensure readiness for modern challenges and the implementation of international standards.

“Energy security today depends on cybersecurity. Georgia has made real progress in protecting the energy sector, but cybersecurity is a constantly changing target – the greater Georgia’s role in regional gas and electricity trade, the greater our responsibility to protect the systems that ensure this process” – Inga Pkhakadze noted.

According to the Deputy Minister, cybersecurity is no longer just a technical issue – it is the cornerstone of national resilience, economic stability, and regional reliability.

During the meeting, representatives of energy companies received comprehensive information through a presentation by ESCO and during the discussion process about the work to be carried out for the implementation of modern cybersecurity standards to increase the company’s protection and reliability. International energy security expert, Erhan Gormen, relying on practical experience and using illustrative examples, explained the importance of cyber protection and cyberattack prevention in the modern world for any sector, especially in a strategic area such as energy. Florian Keate, Head of the World Bank’s Energy Mission, expressed readiness to assist other energy companies operating in Georgia.

It should be noted that in 2025, the Electricity System Commercial Operator (ESCO), as a result of successful measures and significant work carried out in cooperation with the World Bank’s Energy Mission to strengthen cybersecurity, was the first among Georgian energy companies to be awarded the international standard – ISO 27001 certificate. In accordance with Georgian legislation, ESCO is included in the list of organizations with first-category information systems, which provides for the implementation of flexible systems for information security and quality management, raising employee awareness, and the organization’s readiness for the prevention of and effective response to cyberattacks.