Georgian government aiming for equal living standards in different regions of country

Georgian PM Giorgi Kvirikashvili spoke about the government’s view on local self-government reforms today in the south-western city of Akhaltsikhe, where the annual forum – "Institutional dialogue between the state and local government” is being held.

As Kvirikashvili said, the government plans to double the financing for local governments during the next 10 years. In doing so the government hopes to address the problem inequality of life in different regions of the country.

"Increased financing should result in more competence. We need high qualified employees in regional government bodies. We would like to encourage those youth who become educated in the world’s best universities to come back to their hometowns and serve their regions. The reform we are going to implement is going to give them more possibilities to be employed and realise their potential,” PM Kvirikashvili said, expressing his gratitude towards donors including the UN and the embassies of Austria and Switzerland.

The regional decentralisation strategy was presented by the head of the government in March of this year. The eight-year strategy will ensure that local self-governments have increased authority, more financial resources, transparency and accountability.