Regional Director of Cooperation Rudolf Schoch officially opened the event at the Royal District Theatre.
In his welcome address, the Regional Director highlighted that the strategy‘s main focus is on economic development and employment, local governance and human security: „Since 1991 the Swiss Cooperation Office (SCO) has allocated 351 mln. Swiss francs in the South Caucasus region, which is a remarkable amount for a small country of 8 mln. inhabitants. This shows our country’s continuous interest in this region. Switzerland assists Azerbaijan in achieving micro-economic stability. In Georgia and Armenia programmes are designed to ensure market systems development to further an improved access for small and medium farms to markets. In local governance, Switzerland supports decentralisation of the government administration. In Human Security, project in democratisation, and peace promotion related to Nagorno Karabakh, Abkhazia and South Ossetia are supported”.
In addition, the Switzerland finances programmes concerning local integration of labour migrants as well as regional activities in art and culture. Regarding the latter, next year Switzerland will support the second regional Contemporary Dance Festival in Tbilisi.
Mr. Schoch thanked partners and those who have been working closely with the organisation for all these years.
The MP Gia Zhorzholiani, Deputy Chairman of Parliament Commission on Local Governance, and Mr. Teimuraz Shergelashvili, Deputy Minister of the Regional Development and Infrastructure, also attended the event.
According to Mr. Zhorzholiani, the Swiss Development Agency with its development approach influenced the mentality of people in Georgia for many years: “For decades Georgia was ruled by a super-centralized government and every good deed should have been implemented by the central government. The Swiss approach is traditionally opposite to a centralized management. Switzerland’s interventions and experiences are an asset for us. Many thanks to the Switzerland for having done so much and I think that future interventions will be even more important for our country”.
Mr. Tengiz Shergelashvili congratulated the Agency for the Anniversary and stated that 15 years of experience was very substantial: “From my personal experience I can say that Switzerland is a very special country in Europe and so is the Swiss Agency. The assistance of this Agency provides always a blended of intensive care and interest for better result”, stated the Deputy Minister.
