The Parliament of Georgia hosted a reception for compatriots residing abroad, initiated and organised by the Diaspora Committee.

The event was opened with welcoming remarks by the Chair of the Diaspora Committee, Irakli Zarkua, who spoke about the activities and role of representatives of the Georgian diaspora.

“On behalf of Parliament, I would like to thank our diaspora representatives for your activities. Each of you is a source of pride for us and a source of hope for every Georgian. We are proud of you and will continue to be proud of you in the future”, - said Irakli Zarkua.

The participants of the event were also addressed by the Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia, Shalva Papuashvili, who spoke about the importance of strengthening ties between Georgia and the Georgian diaspora: “Georgia needs its diaspora, and the diaspora needs a strong Georgia. It is the state’s task to make this connection stronger, more practical and more effective every day. I thank each of you for preserving the Georgian language, Georgian culture, your families and your connection with your homeland, wherever you may live. Thank you for everything you do for Georgia”.

The invited guests were also welcomed by Vice-Speaker of Parliament Nino Tsilosani, who highlighted the important role of Georgians living abroad in promoting Georgia and contributing to the country’s development: “Each of you, through your own success story, is an ambassador of Georgia. In the countries where you live, you demonstrate to the people around you what a remarkable people Georgians are and present the best image of Georgia. We are doing everything we can to preserve a peaceful Georgia for you and to ensure that you return to an economically successful country”.

As part of the event, special certificates of appreciation and symbolic gifts were presented to successful Georgian compatriots active in the United States and various European countries.

The event aimed to deepen engagement with successful Georgian compatriots residing abroad and highlight their activities.