PM Bakhtadze meets with Georgian diaspora in Brussels
Georgian PM and Foreign Minister mentioned two initiatives of the government in support of Georgians living abroad. Photo: Prime Minister’s press office.
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Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze and the Georgian delegation have met with Georgian diaspora in Brussels late yesterday and familiarised them with the initiatives offered by the Georgian government in support of Georgians living abroad.
Bakhtadze told the audience that through the efforts of the Georgian Dream government the first special three-level textbook has been created for Georgian Sunday schools abroad which, along with the native language, covers the Georgian history, geography, and culture.
A textbook for Georgian Sunday schools abroad. Photo: Prime Minister's press office.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkalani handed copies of the textbook to the founders of the Sunday schools operating in Belgium.
The representatives of the diaspora have also been provided with information about another initiative of the Georgian government aiming to develop a special web portal for Georgians abroad.
With its concept already in place, the diaspora web portal will serve as an effective platform for communication among the state, the private sector, and the diaspora, also enabling compatriots abroad to enjoy all-in-one public services and access a variety of state programs,” the government of Georgia press office reported.
There is currently a total of 84 Georgian Sunday Schools functioning abroad and 11 Georgian language courses attended by up to 3,000 children aged 6 to 14.
The Georgian delegation headed by the PM is currently in Brussels to participate in the first meeting of the unique format established between Georgia and the EU.
Today Georgia and the EU will sign several agreements to provide up to 231 million EURO support for Georgia.
Georgia and the EU will sign several deals tomorrow in Brussels at what will be the first of a new, unique format of meeting between the two parties. The deals will provide up to €231 million in support for Georgian education, economy and businesses.
Prime Minister of Georgia Mamuka Bakhtadze will visit Brussels with the government delegation on today.
The new format of Georgia-EU relations will include a dialogue with the representation of the Prime Minister of Georgia and the President of the European Commission.
The new format was announced by PM Bakhtadze last month. The format will entail a meeting between the Georgian PM and EU President once a year to assess the progress made by Georgia on its way to the EU and involve different ministers upon necessity.
Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze has asked the European Council President Donald Tusk to constantly raise Georgian conflict issues during EU-Russia bilateral meeting formats.
The key outcomes of the meeting include €3.4 billion for transport investment projects, €100 million of additional access to finance in local currency for SMEs, support for additional academic and scientific exchanges, and a new programme to increase the security of Georgian citizens, the European Commission says.
Georgian Prime Minister and President, as well as the Catholicos Patriarch of Georgia Ilia II have emphasised the role of the Georgian diaspora in the maintenance of the EU-Georgia visa free deal, “one of the biggest achievements of the country,” at the diaspora forum held in Tbilisi earlier today.