Page 7 - GEORptAug18

2.2 Georgia parliament endorses new slimmed down government
The Georgian parliament approved the new cabinet under Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze at a session on July 15. Bakhtadze pledged to streamline the government when he was appointed in June to replace Giorgi Kvirikashvili, who stepped down following mass protests and a falling out with the founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party, Bidzina Ivanishvilli. The new government has just 10 ministries, plus the office of the state minister.
“As noted earlier, we need a small, but effective, efficient and flexible bureaucracy; public institutions that operate with a high standard of transparency and subject to public and institutional oversight and control, including that of the anti-corruption nature,” Bakhtadze told the parliament.
Many of the ministers who served under Kvirikashvili kept their jobs, but there were three new ministerial appointments. Giorgi Kobulia, previously a senior partner at international consultancy McKinsey, has become minister of economy and sustainable development; Ivane Machavariani, formerly a director at telco Geocell, becomes finance minister; and Mikheil Batiashvili minister of education, culture and sports.
The new cabinet was backed by 101 MPs in the 150 seat parliament, where the Georgian Dream has 116 MPs in total. There were just 12 dissenting votes. Bakhtadze also o utlined his reform programme , stressing that implementation “will start from tomorrow,” a government statement said.
The overall aim of the reforms, which Bakhtadze said would be carried out in 2018 and 2019, is to “combat poverty and advance to a high standard of democracy and economic performance.”
“Fully-fledged integration” with both the EU and Nato were some of the first points listed by the new prime minister.
Concerning integration with the EU, Tbilisi “will be delivering all the commitments assumed under the EU Association Agreement with greater speed, as a result of which we will regain our place within the historic family, by thereby maintaining our culture and identity,” Bakhtadze told MPs.
In the foreign policy arena, the government’s priority will be to "solidify the internationally recognised borders and sovereignty, de-occupation and territorial integrity of Georgia” — a reference to the Russian-backed separatist regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
Defence spending will be hiked to 2% of GDP — the same level required from Nato member states — and Georgia will aim to ensure high combat preparedness and compatibility with the forces of the military alliance.
In the business sector, Bakhtadze talked of reforms intended to improve the business environment including full automation of the VAT refund system, a streamlining of the tax return system and insolvency system reform.
Tbilisi is keen to attract more foreign direct investments (FDI), especially in
7 GEORGIA Country Report August 2018 www.intellinews.com