EU, MRDI discuss regional development in Georgia
On 21st of September 2018 International Conference on Regional Development Policy in Georgia will be held in Tbilisi. The event is organized by the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia with the support of the European Union.
The purpose of the Conference is to present up to date achievements and discuss perspectives for regional development policy in Georgia in coming years. Regional policy in Georgia is now gaining momentum as important cooperation area under Association Agreement and signed in December 2017 between EU and Georgia Single Support Framework (SSF) 2017 -2020 defining priorities for EU support in Georgia.
During the Conference, among others, will be presented:
- information about tangible results of Regional Development Programme 2015-2017, which was the first of its kind strategic document on regional policy in Georgia co-financed through the budget support scheme by the EU. Implementation of the Programme allowed for realization of many concrete projects increasing capacity to growth of regions outside Tbilisi and Adjara and contributed to increase in institutional capacity of Georgian Administration especially in such areas like programming interinstitutional coordination and monitoring of regional policy implementation;
- “2018-2021 Regional Development Programme of Georgia” recently adopted by the GoG setting Georgian regional policy development goals and priorities for public actions in order to decrease socio-economic disparities and improve prospects for growth, investment and employment in Georgian regions;
- the concept of EU supported Pilot Integrated Regional Development Programme to be realized in four planning regions in Georgia (Kacheti, Imereti, Racha Lechumi and Guria). The Programme will allow for realisation, in line with the EU Cohesion Policy standards and principles (including partnership and decentralisation) of many important projects covering various areas (SMEs, basic infrastructure and services, human resources development) which in line with already realized sectoral programmes and projects will boost investment and employment in targeted regions.
The conference will be attended by high-level representatives of the Government of Georgia, EU Commission (DG Near, DG NEAR), eminent researchers and practitioners from Georgia and several EU countries, Ministries, Governors’ Offices, EU Delegation to Georgia, donor organizations present in Georgia, local NGOs, civil society, academic and other stakeholders.
The event is co-organized by the GIZ Programme „Good Local Governance Programme South Caucasus.
For more information, please contact:
- Ms. Diana Mukhulishvili, SRDPI II Project Administrative Manager, mukhulishvili@gfa-group.de.