On May 21, the Georgian Gambling Business Association participated in the IV Forum of Institutional Dialogue between State and Local Authorities.

During the event, the participants of the forum: members of the legislative and executive branches, state representatives, heads of local self-government units, representatives of city halls and councils - reported on the decentralization reform, existing challenges and increasing economic activity in the regions and held discussions.

The forum was opened with welcoming remarks by the President of Georgia Salome Zurabishvili, the Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze and the Chairman of the Committee on Regional Policy and Self-Government Zaza Gabunia.

"The Institutional Dialogue Forum is a platform where the central government and municipalities conduct a dialogue on the most important issues of the development of the regions of our country. "Today's meeting is attended by representatives of the business sector, ie a dialogue will be held between the state and local authorities and the private sector on economic development of the regions and financial strengthening of municipalities," said Zaza Gabunia, the initiator of the forum.

"Our future lies in the regions of Georgia, the solution of the issue of our occupied territories also lies in the regions. Our peaceful path is based on the development of the regions. This is the purpose of such conferences, so that we can formulate a policy that will lead to the full development of the regions in the medium and long term, "- said the President of Georgia, Salome Zurabishvili.

"Strong regions mean a strong Georgia - this is the principle I have always been guided by. Therefore, without a political system based on the principles of self-government, we can not imagine the sustainable development of our homeland. I can not imagine that we will be able to defeat the challenges facing Georgia. "One of the priorities of our government is to strengthen self-governments, strong regions, inclusive growth, which will ultimately allow us to build a successful country," - said the Prime Minister of Georgia, Mamuka Bakhtadze.

The Forum of Institutional Dialogue between State and Local Authorities was established in 2018 at the initiative of the Chairman of the Committee on Regional Policy and Self-Government, Zaza Gabunia. It is a platform for constructive dialogue between central and local governments on issues related to self-government development and decentralization, and brings together elected mayors and chairmen of 64 municipalities in Georgia, governors of 9 regions and representatives of the central government.

The forum is supported by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Georgia, the National Democratic Institute (NDI), the International Republican Institute (IRI) and World Vision. The event was organized with the financial support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the governments of Switzerland, Austria and Denmark.

source: http://gov.ge/index.php?lang_id=-&sec_id=520&info_id=71827