The EU Delegation to Georgia launches three new grants to support Georgian municipalities in promoting local economic growth and development
07 February 2018On 7 February 2018, the EU Delegation to Georgia together with the EU Initiative “Mayors for Economic Growth” (M4EG) Secretariat held the “Mayors for Economic Growth” Pioneer Projects' Launch Ceremony in Tbilisi, Georgia.
The three pioneer projects to be implemented by Bolnisi Municipality, Gori Municipality, and Tbilisi City Municipality within the framework of the Mayors for Economic Growth Initiative have been competitively selected by the European Commission during the Call for Proposals from the local administrations of the Eastern Partnership countries, and have received the total of around 1,4 mln Euro of grant funding.
Mr. Carlo Natale, the Deputy Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Georgia, congratulated the winners and reinstated the EU commitment to support positive transformations in Georgia where they are needed the most. “Municipalities can make real changes on the ground with a direct impact on economic growth and living conditions of the population. This is why EU strongly supports local authorities to become active facilitators for sustainable development and economic growth”- he stated.
Mr. Irakli Matkava, the First Deputy Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure, as well as Mayors and Deputy Mayors of the involved municipalities also spoke at the event, underscoring the efforts and commitment of the national and subnational government levels in achieving sustainable economic growth of the country as a whole, and Georgian municipalities in particular.
Around 50 high level officials from the involved municipalities and Ministries, representatives of the EU Commission from Brussels and from the EU Delegation to Georgia, as well as delegates from relevant business associations and the National Association of Local Authorities of Georgia took part in the event.
Full Gallery of the Pilot Project’s launch is available here