Georgian PM announces increase in financing for educational projects of Orthodox Church Patriarchate
The PM said the funding was “transparent” and intended to support “several dozen” educational institutions, schools and higher educational institutions, and noted the initiative had “nothing to do with this year's parliamentary elections”, claiming the decision had been made before the announcement of the vote. Photo: Government Administration
Tweet 
Share
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Tuesday said state financing of educational projects of the Patriarchate of the Georgian Orthodox Church had been increased by ₾5 million ($1 mln) and reached ₾35 million ($13 mln).
In his comments to the media, Kobakhidze said it was “important” for the Government to ensure the religious body could implement its educational projects.
He noted the Government had last year allocated ₾30 million ($11 mln) for the purpose besides the general funding amounting to ₾25 million ($9 mln).
Thirty million [$11 mln] was allocated [...] [to] financing educational programmes of the Patriarchate. [...] [T]here were certain needs, which made it necessary to increase the corresponding budget by 5 million [$1 mln], which was approved by the Government’s decree”, he said.
The PM said the funding was “transparent” and intended to support “several dozen” educational institutions, schools and higher educational institutions, and noted the initiative had “nothing to do with this year's parliamentary elections”, claiming the decision had been made before the announcement of the vote.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Tuesday announced a new initiative to enhance the domestic innovation ecosystem by assigning companies a status of innovative startups and granting them tax exemptions for three years.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the newly appointed Prime Minister of Georgia, on Sunday visited the Catholicos Patriarch of Georgia Ilia II to discuss the development of the country and the relationship between the church and the state.
The Catholicos Patriarch of Georgia Ilia II on Friday “heartily” congratulated Irakli Kobakhidze on his appointment as the country’s Prime Minister by saying “May God grant that your work brings peace, prosperity and further success to Georgia”.
Ilia II, the Catholicos Patriarch of the Georgian Orthodox Church, on Friday hailed the efforts of the current Government and Georgian people in obtaining the European Union membership candidate status.