Levan Kharatishvili, Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Georgia participated in a session within the scope of the Wardrop Strategic Dialogue, commissioned between Georgia and the United Kingdom and addressed its participants.
The parties discussed the strategic priorities of the cultural and creative industries and discussed the issue of close cooperation between the United Kingdom and Georgia in this area, identified new areas of interest, including the development and implementation of cultural policy, further development of entrepreneurial skills and opportunities in the industry. The parties agreed to cooperate actively within the framework of programs implemented by the British Council ("Creative Spark" (Creative Spark and Crafting Future).
Furthermore, a separate session was dedicated to discussing the existing opportunities and strategic directions in the field of culture and creative industries in Georgia. Deputy Minister Levan Kharatishvili, British Council Director for the South Caucasus and Georgia, Zaza Purtseladze, British Council Regional Director for Europe, Claire de Breckler and Secretary-General of the Georgian National Commission for UNESCO, Ketevan Kandelaki also participated in the event.
Special emphasis was placed on the activities carried out by the British Council in Georgia. Meeting participants also discussed the use of English in vocational education and training programs.
A plenary session was also held with the participation of the high ranking official from both sides. The dialogue was chaired by the Parliamentary Secretary of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the State Minister for European Neighborhood and American Affairs, and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, David Zalkaliani. The Georgian side thanked the United Kingdom for allocating more educational and research scholarships to the citizens of Georgia.
The Wardrop Strategic Dialogue is a high-level format of bilateral co-operation between Georgia and the United Kingdom that serves to address a wide range of co-operation issues and almost fully encompasses bilateral industrial co-operation. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the seventh round of dialogue was held online this year.