PM Kvirikashvili Meets New Ministers after Gov’t Reshuffle

After announcing a number of important changes in the cabinet, which resulted in a reduction of the number of ministries from 18 to 14, the Prime Minister of Georgia, Giorgi Kvirikashvili, met the new ministers of finance and education, Mamuka Bakhtadze and Mikheil Chkhenkeli, who will start working after Parliament approves the changes.

Kvirikashvili congratulated the ministers on their new positions and wished them success.

The PM stressed that it is important to spend state finances on current needs, especially during the process of optimization. He highlighted the important work carried out by Finance Minister Dimitry Kumsishvili, who is to now to lead the Ministry of Economy, which was merged with the Energy Ministry.

Kvirikashvili wished Bakhtadze luck, adding it will be important to carry out the optimization process as professionally as possible so that people can see that the main focus of this process is really the people.

“Each program and every article in the state budget is to be aimed at improving our citizens' lives," said Kvirikashvili.

The PM also underlined that education is one of the top priorities of the government, the promotion of vocational “a step forward in this field”.

Kvirikashvili wished Mikheil Chkhenkeli success, and expressed hope that his role will see more results for Georgia’s education system.

Former Education Minister Alexander Jejelava was advised by the Prime Minister to move the diplomatic sector. However, he noted that the decision should be made by Jejelava himself.

"He would be welcome a move to diplomatic work, but as he told me, he wants to work in the field of education. Let’s see what decision he makes. He is a member of our team and a very worthy person," said the PM.

Thea Morrison