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• Economic Council meeting led by Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili

  The Economic Council’s meeting, led by Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, was held today at the Government Administration.

  The members of the Economic Council discussed large ongoing and planned economic projects, also the infrastructural projects underway on the instructions of the Prime Minister.

  The 2023-2028 Urban and Resort Development Program was also discussed at the meeting, and Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure Irakli Karseladze briefed in detail the Head of Government and the meeting’s participants on this program. It was noted that ten tourist destinations had been selected for rehabilitation at the initial stage. The special importance of developing destinations for the country’s economic progress and stimulation was underlined.

  The conversation touched on the high rates of economic growth. It was pointed out that, despite the situation in the region and global challenges, Georgia’s economy maintains sustainability, and a high growth of economic activity is in place.

  Notably, the trend of a high economic growth in 2022 continued in January 2023 as well, with the month’s growth rate reaching 8.4%. In parallel with high economic activity, a drop in inflation—which is a global post-pandemic challenge—is also evident.

  Attention was paid to FDIs. It was noted at the meeting that the volume of FDIs in 2022 grew by 61.1% to make up 2 billion USD, which is a historical maximum of FDIs made in the country so far.

  Press Service of the Government Administration
• Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili hosts dinner in honor of EU delegation members

  Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili hosted a formal dinner in honor of the EU delegation members currently visiting Georgia.

  The official dinner honoring the diplomats was held at Mtatsminda. The Head of Government and the European diplomats discussed Georgia’s European integration in an informal setting.

  A high-level regional ambassadorial organized by the EU Delegation is about to be held in Tbilisi. Senior officials for the EU’s External Action Service and the European Commission—including the Heads of the EU Delegations to the countries of the Eastern Partnership and Central Asia, also to Turkey and Austria—will participate in the regional ambassadorial.

  The high-level regional ambassadorial of the EU is held periodically and represents an important forum for discussing the EU’s policy toward concrete countries.

  As it was noted at the official dinner, holding the ambassadorial in Georgia demonstrates Georgia’s importance in the region for the EU, including as a strong ally in cementing the cooperation among European and Central Asian countries.

  Press Service of the Government Administration
• Georgian Prime Minister meets Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of Armenia

  Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili met with Zhanna Andreasyan, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of Armenia.

  The conversation at the meeting focused on the multidirectional relations and productive cooperation between Georgia and Armenia. It was noted that Georgia and Armenia are linked by a centuries-old history and good-neighborly relations.

  The current cooperation between the two countries in the areas of education and science and topics pertaining to expanding these relations in the future were discussed. It was noted that the Georgian side is actively cooperating with Armenian counterparts and is committed to continuing efforts toward exchanging experience in the area of education, ensuring education quality, and reforming.

  It was underlined that the Georgian Government remains committed to enhancing access to quality education.

  The meeting at the Government Administration was attended by Minister of Education and Science Mikheil Chkhenkeli and Armenia’s Ambassador to Georgia Ashot Smbatyan.

  Press Service of the Government Administration
• Irakli Garibashvili, Prime Minister of Georgia Meets New Head of EUMM

  Irakli Garibashvili, Prime Minister of Georgia met Dimitrios Karabalis, new Head of the European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) in Georgia today.

  The Head of Government of Georgia congratulated the diplomat on his appointment at the introductory meeting and wished every success in his future endeavors.

  Role of the monitoring mission, as one of the international mechanisms existing on the ground, was highlighted in ensuring regional security and peace.

  Irakli Garibashvili and Dimitrios Karabalis discussed the grave conditions existing in the occupied regions of Georgia as well as those along the occupation line in terms of security environment, humanitarian and human rights. The Prime Minister of Georgia reiterated the commitment assumed by the Government of Georgia towards a peaceful conflict resolution policy.

  Discussion was also related to the security environment and challenges faced within the region and around the world.

  Meeting was attended by Revaz Javelidze, Head of Government Administration.

  Press Service of the Government Administration
• Keynote Speech Delivered by Irakli Garibashvili, Prime Minister of Georgia at the Opening Ceremony of ITB Berlin 2023

  Good Evening Your Excellences, Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Friends,

  I am delighted to welcome Mr. Robert Habeck, Vice-Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany; Mr. Dirk Hoffman, Managing Director of ITB Berlin; Mr. Zurab Pololikashvili, my dear friend and Secretary-General of the UN World Tourism Organization; Ms. Julia Simpson, President and CEO of the World Travel and Tourism Council; and, Ms. Franzisca Giffey, the Governing Mayor of Berlin.

  Dear Friends, we are extremely honored to host you on behalf of Georgia in this beautiful city of Berlin. Welcome!

  Within the Caucasus region, at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, our country has been the heart of many civilizations for millennia, being the target of great empires and often serving as the subject of contention between them. Entire history of humankind is represented in Georgia. The country was forming and evolving in constant struggle, in the pursuit of development and freedom, and at the same time, in active interaction with other cultures. It is the cooperation of these cultures that gave rise to the intercultural and tolerant nature of which we, Georgians, are so proud!

  Georgia stands out with its unique nature. It is hard to find a land with similar natural diversity and perpetual culture elsewhere.

  Almost all climate zones of the planet can be found in Georgia – from subtropical to those of eternal snow and glaciers.

  The Georgian nation with its character was formed in such an environment and historical process, with Georgian identity and culture, which is tolerant and respectful of all cultures.

  Very few countries exist in the world that have a 3,000-year old history of statehood and a multi-thousand-year national culture. This very culture is one of the fascinating achievements of world civilization and is as old as humanity itself.

  Indeed, our history begins from ancient times. The oldest human ancestor in Eurasia was discovered in Georgia. You may well be aware of Homo Georgicus – the first Europeans who lived on the territory of our country almost 2 million years ago and gave rise to the population of modern Europe.

  The Georgians have always had a close connection with the ancient civilizations of the Near East or Mesopotamia. The oldest reference to Georgian political establishments can be found in Assyrian sources. The Georgian kingdoms of Colchis, Diaokhi, and Iberia became an integral part of world civilization.

  In ancient times, we were an important center of the Western civilization. “Golden Colchis” – this is how the kingdom is mentioned in ancient written sources, next to such important cities as Mycenae, Babylon and Athens. Philosophy flourished in ancient Colchis. The philosophers of Ancient Hellas tell us about the Philosophical School of Phasis, where the Greeks received education themselves.

  Archaeological discoveries and artefacts reveal a connection between the Hellenic myth about the Golden Fleece and our reality. Even the ancient Greek historians did not doubt this connection. It was thanks to Colchis, being the country of the Golden Fleece, that Georgia found its rightful place in European culture for the first time. The whole cycle of Greek mythology is dedicated to the campaign of Argonauts in Colchis, while the Greek myths are the main source giving rise to ancient and later European culture.