Georgian diaspora members awarded for promoting country abroad
Officials of the country’s legislative and executive powers were in attendance for the awards, where foreign citizens were also distinguished for introducing Georgia to communities abroad. Photo: MFA of Georgia
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Select members of the Georgian diaspora abroad were on Friday awarded for promoting the country’s culture abroad and contributing to public diplomacy and economic development.
The Georgian foreign office and the International Center for Migration Policy Development hosted the end-of-year event, where the efforts of diaspora representatives in forging and maintaining ties were highlighted.
Officials of the country’s legislative and executive powers were in attendance for the awards, where foreign citizens were also distinguished for introducing Georgia to communities abroad.
Among the latter, Kingsley Aikins and Takehide Harada were distinguished with the Foreign Friend of Georgia prize in the nomination, and addressed the audience about their experiences with Georgia and its culture.
Foreign Minister of Georgia Ilia Darchiashvili pointed out the contribution of the two award-winners in promoting the country in Ireland and Japan respectively as “Georgia's devoted friends [...] who never spare efforts to bolster people-to-people exchanges and bring our nations closer to each other”.
It was an honor to present the Cultural Merit Award on behalf of the @MFAgovge to Georgia's devoted friends from Ireland and Japan - Kingsley Aikins and Takehide Harada, who never spare efforts to bolster people-to-people exchanges and bring our nations closer to each other. pic.twitter.com/eU4wgOYEPS
— Ilia Darchiashvili (@iliadarch) December 30, 2022
The annual event is hosted to highlight Georgians abroad who have achieved professional success in countries of their residence and contributed to the promotion of Georgia, while also celebrating efforts of foreign nationals in fostering cultural links with the country.
Georgian capital Tbilisi has hosted the local economic development forum Sustainable Economic Recovery, with deputy minister of foreign affairs Vladimir Konstantinidi addressing the event on the importance of the involvement of Georgian diaspora in the country's economic development.
Officials and professionals in Tbilisi discussed the importance of diaspora in promoting Georgian culture abroad in a forum dedicated to cultural diplomacy, digital diaspora and more on Saturday, the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
The Government will remove “all artificial barriers” to enable representatives of the Georgian diaspora to easily receive passports, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said on Friday at a forum dedicated to Diaspora Day.
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.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, on Saturday, said President Salome Zourabichvili’s criticism towards the entire Government for the past two days, “in such a peaceful period” in the country, was “another clear example and confirmation” of democracy.
The Georgian Government on Monday announced it was planning amendments in domestic laws to simplify procedures for obtaining the country’s citizenship.
International organisations have commended Georgia's state policy towards the diaspora and programmes supporting young expats at the 14th Summit of the Global Forum on Migration and Development in Geneva this week, the Georgian foreign office said on Friday.