12 outstanding citizens receive diaspora award

12 outstanding citizens have been awarded today for their special contribution to the development of the Georgian diaspora abroad.

The final list of the nominees has been selected from 150 by the diaspora members.

#Georgian Diaspora Awards Ceremony 2017 organized by MFA of #Georgia in cooperation with @ICMPD#Georgia. #Proud2beGeorgianpic.twitter.com/ocCKGF36uH

— Mikheil Janelidze (@JanelidzeMkh) July 3, 2017

The diaspora award has gone to:

• Singer Keti Melua, painter Lika Shkhvatsabaia and folk dancer Maka Lomadze - for promotion of Georgian culture abroad;
• Historian Davit Kolbaia, Doctor Sopo Adamia, Scientist Merab Kokaia and Surgeon Ioseb Nanobashvili - for their contribution in science;
• Ph Degree student Mikheil Sarjveladze - for public diplomacy;
• Basketball player Zaza Pachulia - for his contribution in sport.
• Austrian entrepreneur Leonid Bausbeck, Greek journalist Teodora Avgeri and Swiss musician Thomas Hisermann - for devoted friendship to Georgia.

The awards ceremony organised by the Georgian Foreign Ministry has kicked off for the first time this year.

Many representatives of our diaspora have achieved significant professional and career success at the countries they reside. With their talent and intellect they have gained respect in the societies where they work in different fields”, Georgian Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze addressed the audience today.

Active diaspora=strong voice of #Georgia. We regard #Georgian Diaspora as strategically vital political&cultural asset for Georgia's success pic.twitter.com/SpkJ32nsjh

— Mikheil Janelidze (@JanelidzeMkh) July 3, 2017

The event serves as recognition of the merit of those Georgians who have achieved their professional success out of the country thus contributed to promoting Georgia’s positive image in culture, sport and science.