Georgian PM: overcoming challenges is Impossible without strong self-governance
By Tea Mariamidze
Thursday, May 23
The Prime Minister of Georgia Mamuka Bakhtadze says it is impossible to overcome challenges without strong self-governance.
He said the strengthened self-governance is one of the key priorities of the government.
The PM made the statement at the IV Forum of an Institutional Dialogue between National and Local Authorities, titled - Regional Economy - Strong Municipalities within the Context of Decentralization Reform. The event took place in Tskaltubo, West Georgia.
Bakhtadze delivered a speech, saying a sustainable development of Georgia is possible with a political system based on the principles of self-governance.
“Our priority is strong regions, inclusive growth, which ultimately will enable us to build a successful country,” he said, adding inaccurate economic policy implemented for years has deteriorated the country's economy.
“Large portion of municipalities managed to carry out a hard task indeed, and I am confident that they will improve even more by the end of the year. We managed to achieve this criterion everywhere, except 5-6 municipalities," added the Prime Minister.
Bakhtadze said a draft Strategy on Decentralization has been developed. It envisages an increased authority of local self-governance, financial decentralization, and more transparent accountability of local authorities.
“We have already developed a draft Strategy on Decentralization. It is based on the vision of the Government and Parliament of Georgia announced in March 2018. It is in a real sense leading to the increased authority of self-governance, financial decentralization and more transparent accountability of local authorities. Within this context, we should be assured that each citizen gets engaged in the process,” he added.
According to the PM, the strategy has three dimensions: the increased authority of self-governance; material and financial empowering of local authorities; responsible, transparent and result-oriented local authorities.
“I wish to once again reaffirm you in the solid political will of the Government of Georgia and our executive team towards continuing and completing the democratization process of local authorities. Each of us strives to shape Georgia into a strong European state”.
The PM talked about educational reform, saying it "will give all the potential to Georgia to overcome all its challenges."
"It is thereby the only guarantee that Georgia will be a unified, strong and successful country in the 21st century,” he said, adding that the parliament will consider a draft, according to which the state will spend 6% of the state budget on education.
"Engagement of each of you is of great importance. Same applies to your participation in the successful implementation of the reform in the education sector. I am convinced that we will regain the role of the regional hub in education upon the implementation of this national idea. It will be the prerequisite of success,” he added.
