The Minister of Education and Science of Georgia, Giorgi Amilakhvari, recently honoured the winners of the "WorldSkills Georgia 2023" national competition. The minister extended his congratulations to the young competitors, wishing them continued success and presented them with their certificates. 

In his address, Minister Amilakhvari emphasized the significance of nurturing professional education. He highlighted the crucial role of such large-scale competitions in providing young participants with opportunities to engage with international experiences, modern advancements, and innovations. 

"As you are aware, vocational education is a key focus for our government. It's expanding annually, becoming more accessible, and notably, more sought-after and prestigious.

A prime example is the event today, showcasing an international-level vocational skills competition. This year, after a considerable hiatus, we've reintroduced it in Georgia, covering three domains: web technologies, cooking, and confectionery. 

During the competition, alongside our distinguished experts and jurors, we recognized and rewarded one winner from each category. These individuals will represent us at the final stage of the WorldSkills competition in Lyon, France, later this year. 

I extend my best wishes to them, as well as to all vocational college students and vocational training center attendees. It's heartening to see professional education gaining more traction in Georgia than higher education. Our ministry is committed to further prioritizing and investing in professional education, recognizing its pivotal role in economic development and job market accessibility." - stated Minister Amilakhvari. 

The "WorldSkills Georgia 2023" competition's cooking category winners were Nino Sharukhia (first place), Lasha Tsotsanava (second place), and Luka Abashidze (third place). 

In the confectionery field, Tamta Devadze clinched first place, followed by Demetri Nadiradze in second and Nino Skhvitaridze in third. 

For web technologies, Saba Avlokhashvili emerged as the top contestant, with Nino Kokilashvili and Irakli Tatarashvili securing second and third places, respectively. 

The 2023 competition, encompassing cooking, confectionery, and web technologies, was open to individuals under 21—students of vocational programs, graduates, company employees, and the self-employed. 

Organized by the Professional Skills Agency, the Georgian competition's winners will participate in the 47th WorldSkills International Competition, scheduled for September 10-15, 2024, in Lyon, France. 

WorldSkills International aims to showcase and acknowledge talented young professionals and emphasize the role of skill development in economic growth and personal achievement. Established in 1946, the biennial international competition invites participants from its 85 member countries. Georgia, a WorldSkills member since 2012, has participated thrice, offering its representatives a platform to explore latest industry trends, international standards, and networking opportunities with global experts. 

WorldSkills International's mission is to foster high professional skill standards globally, promote vocational education, and raise public awareness. The Vocational Skills Agency, Georgia's official WorldSkills International representative, is also an associate member of the organization.