Foreign Minister Liimets approved the Estonia-Georgia development cooperation strategy
Foreign Minister Eva-Maria Liimets approved the Estonia-Georgia country strategy for 2021–2024 with main objectives of reinforcing the development of democracy, supporting entrepreneurship, improving the quality of education and raising awareness of the climate change and the environment.
Georgia has been Estonia’s development cooperation priority country since 2006. During that time, Estonia has supported development in Georgia with more than 12 million euros, with more than 6 million allocated between 2014 and 2020. “Supporting the development objectives of Georgia has largely concentrated on capacity building projects – we have passed on our expertise on good governance, digital capabilities and education. The new country strategy focuses more on long-term strategic goals and existing cooperation to offer more efficient support to Georgia with our experiences,” Foreign Minister Liimets said.
Based on the development strategy and needs of Georgia, the main areas of the Estonia-Georgia development cooperation until 2024 are supporting democratic state structures and systems, supporting entrepreneurship, improving the quality of education and greater attention to climate and environmental issues.
“In advancing democracy, our aim is to help shape transparent policies that would contribute to open governance, human rights and social inclusion. With our knowledge and experiences, we would like to support the modernisation of Georgia’s education system and the development of small enterprises for young people, women and rural residents. We also consider it important to help increase climate and environmental awareness and support climate friendly projects that contribute to the green economy,” Liimets said.
“It has been a privilege to share our reform experiences with Georgia. Not only because of our mutual understanding of democratic reforms and EU integration but because the commitment and enthusiasm of the people of Georgia,” said Tiina Ilsen, Head of Eastern Partnership Department at the Estonian Centre for International Development.
At the virtual event held yesterday from 15.30 to 16.00, the strategy was presented by the foreign minister, Georgian Ambassador to Estonia Archil Karaulashvili, Estonian Ambassador to Georgia Riina Kaljurand, Director General of the External Economic and Development Cooperation Department Jüri Seilenthal and representatives of the Estonian Centre for International Development, UNICEF’s Georgian department and the Donor Coordination Unit of the Prime Minister’s Office of Georgia.
The event is available for watching on the Foreign Ministry’s YouTube page.
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