Georgian Finance Minister, French Development Agency Deputy CEO sign 2024-2027 cooperation deal
The meeting also reviewed the commitment of the AFD Group to continue supporting Georgia in energy, connectivity, water and human capital development, as well as within the “renewed perspective of rapprochement” with Europe, after the country was granted the European Union membership candidate status in December. Photo: Ambassade de France en Géorgie
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Georgian Finance Minister Lasha Khutsishvili and Bertrand Walckenaer, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the French Development Agency, on Thursday signed a second memorandum for cooperation between 2024-2027, the French Embassy said.
The Embassy said Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and Sheraz Gasri, the French Ambassador to the country, also signed two “strategic documents” aimed at strengthening relations between the two countries before the start of the meeting.
It added the document involved amendments into the 2014 intergovernmental agreement establishing activities of the AFD in Georgia to integrate Expertise France, a branch of the AFD group, whose activities include technical cooperation.
The meeting between Kobakhidze, Walckenaer and Gasri discussed “long-standing” cooperation between the two countries.
The meeting also reviewed the commitment of the AFD Group to continue supporting Georgia in energy, connectivity, water and human capital development, as well as within the “renewed perspective of rapprochement” with Europe, after the country was granted the European Union membership candidate status in December.
The Embassy added France, via the AFD Group, has been a “leading financial partner” of Georgia since 2012, contributing more than €800 million.
It also said the AFD Group, made up of the French development agency Proparco and Expertise France, managed a “wide range” of financial and technical instruments and had the opportunity to put “French expertise at the service of Georgia's ambitious strategy for more inclusive and sustainable development”.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and Bertrand Walckenaer, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the French Development Agency, on Thursday reviewed prospects of future cooperation facilitated by the partnership agreement signed between the country and the AFD.
Georgian Finance Minister Lasha Khutsishvili on Tuesday discussed cooperation with Cécile Couprie, the Regional Director for Eurasia for the French Development Agency, and outlined plans for the third annual bilateral consultation meeting between the Georgian Government and the institution.
Georgia will receive €100 million from the French Development Agency to co-finance its human capital development programme as part of the agreement signed on Tuesday between the AFD, the ministry of finance of Georgia and the French embassy.
A human capital programme designed to unlock Georgia’s growth potential through investments in health, education and social protection has been launched in the country, the World Bank announced on Tuesday.