TBILISI: Irakli Garibashvili, Prime Minister of Georgia, welcomed a delegation from the Government Experience Exchange Office (GEEO) of the UAE government. The visit focused on expanding bilateral cooperation between the two countries in government modernisation and knowledge exchange.
During the meeting, Irakli Garibashvili emphasised the importance of the strategic partnership between Georgia and the UAE across various sectors, particularly in knowledge exchange, government modernisation, economy and investment.
He commended the outcomes of the bilateral cooperation in government work and the results of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, which laid a solid foundation for advanced trade relations. Garibashvili stressed Georgia’s keenness to enhance cooperation and expand partnerships with the UAE into broader areas.
The Georgian Prime Minister engaged in various discussions with the delegation, comprising Abdulla Nasser Lootah, Deputy Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Competitiveness and Know
ledge Exchange; Ahmad Ibrahim Al Nuaimi, UAE Ambassador to Georgia; and Manal Bin Salem, Government Experience Exchange Programme Team Leader at the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs. Together, they delved into the essential role played by the Government Experience Exchange Programme in exchanging ground-breaking experiences and expertise.
The GEEO delegation discussed ways to enhance bilateral cooperation between the UAE and Georgia in government modernisation, which is part of the cooperation agreement signed between the two nations during World Government Summit 2023.
The visit included meetings with several high-ranking officials in the Georgian government, including Minister of Education and Science Giorgi Amilakhvari, Head of Government Administration Revaz Javelidze, Deputy Head of Government Administration Zviad Barkaia, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Alexander Khvtisiashvili, Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Irakli Nadareishvili, and Deputy Ministers of Justice Tamar Tkeshelashv
ili and Erekle Ghvinianidze, in addition to Avtandil Kasradze, Chairman, Georgian Innovation and Technology Agency and other officials from Georgia’s government and academic sectors.
Abdulla Lootah emphasised that expanding knowledge exchange partnerships between the UAE and Georgia is a crucial focus for collaborative efforts. The goal is to benefit from the experiences, success stories, and expertise accumulated by both governments in modernising government work.
Lootah noted that cooperation in government modernisation is supported and prioritised by the leadership of both friendly countries, reflecting the outstanding relationship that unites them in various fields. He pointed out that the UAE government is keen on supporting positive partnerships with countries worldwide by exchanging knowledge and sharing best practices.
In their discussion with Revaz Javelidze, Zviad Barkaia, and Vakhtang Katamadze, Director of the Policy Planning and Governmental Coordination Department at the Georgian Government A
dministration, the GEEO delegation delved into intensifying efforts to achieve the goals of bilateral cooperation. They examined the most recent initiatives and strategies to broaden the scope of collaboration, including the incorporation of additional areas: capacity building and future foresight.
While meeting with Avtandil Kasradze, the delegation received insights into crucial government practices adopted in Georgia within the fields of innovation and technology. The delegation explored potential areas of collaboration in government innovation and artificial intelligence. Furthermore, meetings were held with high-ranking officials at Tbilisi State University and Kutaisi International University, focusing on diverse capacity-building initiatives and academic partnerships.
The GEEO team also met with Lasha Lonjanidze, Chairman, Public Service Hall, and Davit Devidze, Chairman, National Public Registry. The discussions covered cooperation areas in smart and government services, as well as key initiatives e
xplored by the Georgian delegation during their visit to the UAE and ways to integrate these initiatives into the bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
It is noteworthy that His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubaii, and Irakli Garibashvili, Prime Minister of Georgia, witnessed the signing of the bilateral cooperation agreement in government modernisation during World Government Summit 2023. The agreement was signed by Mohammad bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, and Revaz Javelidze, Head of the Georgian Government Administration.
The collaboration between the UAE and Georgia spans eight domains, including government services, smart services, government innovation, artificial intelligence, capacity building, future foresight, coding, and government performance. The latter two were added after the visit of the Georgian government delegation to the UAE in December last year.
The focus of cooperation in the area of gover
nment performance and the establishment of an integrated system for monitoring government indicators entails sharing the UAE’s expertise in monitoring the performance of government entities. The goal is to facilitate development within these entities, improving the efficiency of performance monitoring to enhance strategic planning.
In the domains of smart services and government services, the emphasis is on incorporating digital elements to achieve inclusivity and flexibility, aligning with the demands of the digital age. This involves a concentration on client needs, the use of digital tools in service design and delivery, reliance on data, commitment to the principle of open government, and a proactive approach.
The artificial intelligence domain involves knowledge exchange on the latest advancements in artificial intelligence and robotics. It includes formulating strategies to leverage AI solutions, with the aim of revolutionising the delivery of government services.
As for the coding domain, the focus
is on enhancing the digital skills of community members and nurturing the next generation of tech experts. This is facilitated through a digital platform that offers online programming courses, covering coding basics, fundamentals of data science, and the essentials of Android development.
In the capacity-building domain, endeavours focus on holding educational workshops for government leaders and implementing competency development programmes to guide their advancement. Furthermore, senior officials in Georgia are provided with the opportunity to participate in an international programme designed for government managers.
Source: Emirates News Agency
