Western donors meeting in Brussels are expected to pledge more than $3bn (£1.8bn) to help rebuild Georgia, two months after its conflict with Russia.
Western donors have pledged $4.55bn (£2.8bn) to help rebuild Georgia, two months after its conflict with Russia.
Officials from some 70 countries and organisations are attending a conference hosted by the European Commission and the World Bank.
The announcement followed a meeting of some 70 organisations and countries in Brussels, hosted by the European Commission and the World Bank.
However, Russia has not been invited to the conference.
EU External Relations Commissioner Benito Ferrero-Walder said the amount was far more than had been expected.
In August, Moscow ousted Georgian troops from Georgia's rebel regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
In August, Moscow ousted Georgian troops from Georgia's rebel regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
The Kremlin later recognised the two territories as independent states, drawing criticism from Western nations.
The Kremlin later recognised the two territories as independent states, drawing criticism from Western nations.
Russia is still keeping more than 7,000 troops in South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
Russia still has more than 7,000 troops in South Ossetia and Abkhazia and Moscow was not invited to donors conference.
As one EU official explained, the donors' conference supports Georgia's territorial integrity and Russia has a different interpretation of that.
As one EU official explained, the conference supports Georgia's territorial integrity and Russia has a different interpretation of that.
'Moral imperative'
'Day of joy'
The Brussels conference is meant to send a strong signal of support and confidence in Georgia in its hour of need.
Russia withdrew its troops from the "buffer zones" earlier this monthPledges from Western donors had expected to reach more than $3bn (£1.8bn).
Some key donors have already announced their pledges: $1bn (£600m) from the US and $700m (£429m) from the European Commission. More is expected to come from EU governments and international bodies like the World Bank.
But Mr Ferrero-Walder said the final total was much more than the Commission had sought.
"Therefore I think it is a day of joy," he told reporters.
Some key donors had announced their pledges prior to the meeting: $1bn (£600m) from the US and $700m (£429m) from the European Commission.
The remaining amount was expected to come from EU governments and international bodies like the World Bank.
The BBC's Oana Lungescu in Brussels said the conference was intended to send a strong signal of support and confidence in Georgia in its hour of need.
Opening the conference, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said: "It is what I will describe as the moral imperative to help a neighbour in need. The European neighbourhood policy is more than words, it's about actions."
Opening the conference, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said: "It is what I will describe as the moral imperative to help a neighbour in need. The European neighbourhood policy is more than words, it's about actions."
He said that by helping Georgia, a key energy transit country, the EU was also helping itself.
He said that by helping Georgia, a key energy transit country, the EU was also helping itself.
As winter approaches, the focus will be on resettling almost 65,000 refugees whose homes were burned and looted in the war.
The focus of the aid process will be on resettling almost 65,000 refugees whose homes were burned and looted in the war, says our correspondent.
But much of the aid is for long-term needs, rebuilding infrastructure and restoring the confidence of foreign investors in Georgia's once fast-growing economy.
But much of the aid is for long-term needs, rebuilding infrastructure and restoring the confidence of foreign investors in Georgia's once fast-growing economy.
Spread over three years, it is a hefty bill, amounting to almost $700 (£429) for each one of Georgia's 4.6 million people.
Opposition warning
Critics say an inflow of more than $3bn into such a small country risks fuelling corruption.
In an open letter to the conference, six Georgian opposition leaders urged donors to strictly monitor the funds allocation.
In an open letter to the conference, six Georgian opposition leaders urged donors to strictly monitor the funds allocation.
They said this would ensure that the money reached the displaced people and helped economic recovery, rather than strengthening the administration of President Mikhail Saakashvili, which they said had provoked Russia's military intervention in August.
They said this would ensure that the money reached the displaced people and helped economic recovery, rather than strengthening the administration of President Mikhail Saakashvili, which they said had provoked Russia's military intervention in August.
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