Related items

• G7 to accelerate talks to reduce Russia’s revenues from diamonds, energy and metals

  G7 Foreign Ministers meeting in Tokyo, Japan, have reaffirmed their readiness to continue to support Ukraine and to increase economic pressure and impose robust sanctions and other restrictions against Russia.

  The Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, and the High Representative of the European Union took part in the meeting.

  “We will reinforce our coordination on sanctions to restrict Russia’s access to critical goods and technology. We will take further action to prevent the evasion and circumvention of our measures against Russia,” ministers said in a joint statement. “In order to reduce the revenues that Russian extracts from its exports, we will accelerate our consultation on energy, metals, and all non-industrial diamonds, including those mined, processed or produced in Russia.”

  They also reaffirmed that, consistent with their respective legal systems, Russia’s sovereign assets in their jurisdictions would remain immobilised, “until Russia pays for the damage it has caused to Ukraine”. 

  The ministers also said that “Russia’s irresponsible nuclear rhetoric and its announced deployment of nuclear weapons in Belarus are unacceptable”. 

  “Any use of chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons by Russia would be met with severe consequences. We deeply regret Russia’s decision to revoke its ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. We strongly support the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) continued presence and unfettered access at all of Ukraine’s civil nuclear sites,” the statement said.

  Concerning the South Caucasus, G7 ministers expressed their grave concern over the humanitarian consequences of the displacement of Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh after the military operation conducted by Azerbaijan. They urged Azerbaijan to fully comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law, and welcomed international efforts to address urgent humanitarian needs for those who had been displaced.

  Find out more

  Press release

• GLOBALink | China, Europe forge deeper ties via thriving maritime trade routes

  With over 1.6 million U.S. dollars worth of trade conducted on average every minute, China and the EU, who are each other's second-largest trading partners in 2022, have forged deeper ties with thriving maritime trade routes.

   Produced by Xinhua Global Service

• Ukrainian House Opens Its Doors in Tbilisi!

  UNDP and Germany promote social integration of Ukrainian nationals living in Georgia

  TBILISI. 13 September 2023 — The newly inaugurated Ukrainian House in Tbilisi marks a significant milestone in enhancing support for Ukrainian nationals living in Georgia. The initiative is spearheaded by the Ukrainian community organization “Georgian-Ukrainian Platform” with support from the Government of Germany through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

  The Ukrainian House stands as a symbol of unity and collaboration, committed to supporting Ukrainian nationals who sought refuge in Georgia amidst the devastating war that inflicts unmeasurable suffering upon the Ukrainian people and has profound global repercussions.

  This multifunctional space, situated in the heart of Tbilisi, will address the needs of Ukrainian non-governmental organizations and volunteer groups committed to assisting Ukrainian beneficiaries in Georgia. The Ukrainian House will serve as both a communal hub, an operational office space, and a referral point for various socio-economic services tailored for Ukrainian nationals.

  In addition to its core mission, the Ukrainian House will be a focal point for cultural exchange. Its dynamic calendar of events will cater to both adults and children, fostering integration and enhancing the growth of Georgian-Ukrainian relations.

  The Ukrainian House officially opened its doors on 13 September 2023, during a ceremony attended by Tanja Hutt, Deputy Head of Mission, German Embassy in Georgia; Oleksandr Shulha, charge d'affaires of Ukraine in Georgia; Anna Chernyshova, UNDP Resident Representative a.i. in Georgia, Valentina Marjanishvili, Head of the Georgian-Ukrainian Platform, and members of the Ukrainian community in Georgia.

  “Germany is proud to contribute to the establishment of the Ukrainian House in Tbilisi. We are confident that this vibrant space will offer support to various Ukrainian community groups in Georgia, while actively fostering social integration," said Tanja Hutt, Deputy Head of Mission at the German Embassy in Georgia.

  “Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has led to the largest refugee crisis since the Second World War. Nearly one-third of the Ukrainian population was forced to flee their homes, including more than half of all Ukrainian children. Around 25,000 found shelter, security, and hope in Georgia, and UNDP, with the generous support of Germany, is committed to assisting them. We're establishing a community space for Ukrainian civil society organizations, providing grants to entrepreneurs, and offering vital support for employment, recovery, and integration,” said Anna Chernyshova, UNDP Resident Representative a.i. in Georgia.

  "The establishment of the Ukrainian House reflects the close ties between Georgia and Ukraine. This space will offer practical assistance to Ukrainians living in Georgia and will foster connections and nurture talents within our community through cultural and educational events," noted Valentina Marjanishvili, Head of the Georgian-Ukrainian Platform.

  The establishment of the Ukrainian House in Tbilisi is part of UNDP’s broader efforts, funded by the Government of Germany, to support refugees and Ukrainian nationals living in Georgia. ln partnership with CARE Caucasus, UNDP boosts economic recovery and income generation for refugees and Ukrainian nationals by creating a grants programme for entrepreneurs and providing business training, employment advice, and job-matching services within Georgia's private sector.

• European Commission releases €1.5 billion in macro-financial assistance to Ukraine

  Today the European Union is providing another €1.5 billion to Ukraine under its annual macro-financial assistance package. 

  The European Commission made today a third payment of €1.5 billion under the Macro-financial Assistance (MFA)+ package for Ukraine, worth up to €18 billion. 

  This support will help Ukraine cover its immediate financial needs: to continue paying salaries and pensions and to maintain basic public services such as hospitals, schools and housing for the displaced. It will also allow Ukraine to ensure macroeconomic stability and restore critical infrastructure destroyed by Russia in its war of aggression, such as energy infrastructure, water systems, transport networks, roads and bridges.

  Today’s payment comes after the Commission found that Ukraine continued to make satisfactory progress to strengthen the rule of law, enhance financial stability, improve the functioning of the gas system and promote a better business climate. 

  This finding will also enable the disbursement of two further monthly payments of €1.5 billion each in May and June.

  Overall, since the start of the war, the support to Ukraine and Ukrainians amounts to around €68 billion. 

  “We will continue helping Ukraine resist Russia’s aggression, keep its institutions and infrastructure running, and conduct crucial reforms,” President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen wrote on Twitter.

  Find out more

  Press release

• Visa and Emerging Europe launch the She’s Next digital community platform for female entrepreneurs

  Functioning as a professional social network, the digital platform will unite women leaders from Georgia and the whole region of Eastern and Southeastern Europe, Central Asia, and the Caucasus and provide them with tools for networking, exchanging experiences, and international business expansion.

  Tbilisi, 27 April, 2023  - Visa announced the launch of the She’s Next digital community platform for female entrepreneurs from Eastern and Southeastern Europe, Central Asia, and the Caucasus created in partnership with Emerging Europe, a prominent growth hub with thorough expertise in the region. The website launch was announced in Georgia and in this regard, Visa organized an informal meeting with Georgian women entrepreneurs and Visa partners.

  At the meeting Visa team in Georgia introduced the opportunities and characteristics of the platform as it is intended to connect businesswomen from various countries and facilitate networking, exchanging experiences, and international business expansion.

  “The She’s Next Empowered by Visa initiative is not only about empowerment but about creating a community of motivated and aspiring women,” commented Diana Kiguradze, Visa Regional Manager for the Caucasus. “Hosting events dedicated to female entrepreneurship, we noticed an interesting detail: She’s Next alumni from different countries tended to connect based on shared interests and values. The latest She’s Next research results in Georgia revealed that 82% of Georgian SMBs are eager to join the international community of entrepreneurs. So, we created it for them to share best practices, learn from each other, and grow as leaders. I believe the She’s Next digital community platform will be a real game-changer for all businesswomen from Georgia and the whole region.”

  The digital platform includes all functions of a professional social network—a newsfeed, interest groups, and tools for posting and messaging—and will allow female leaders and entrepreneurs to communicate, search for business contacts, suppliers, or investors, and develop their personal brand. All potential platform users will undergo a verification process upon signing up to prevent fraud and ensure they are real persons and reliable partners for cooperation.

  The She’s Next digital community platform is open to everyone interested in entrepreneurship, from those with a business idea but no existing business to startup owners and women with well-established enterprises. To learn more and join, please visit https://shesnext.emergingeurope.org/.

  ###

  About Visa

  Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating payments transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere and see access as foundational to the future of money movement. Learn more at visa.com.ge