Meeting of RELI representatives with the counselors of the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania (LR) to Georgia

On 10 October four of the Regional Ethics and Leadership Institute’s (RELI) employees met with counselors Mr. Viktoras Dagilis and Mr. Danas Vaitkevičius of LR Embassy in Georgia. The trip to Georgia was scheduled as the last phase of the project “Strengthening of democratic and economic potential of Georgia’s Guria region,” financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania and the International Republican Institute in Georgia, during which the progress of the participants after their training in Lithuania was assessed. Questions related to the project, as well as future possibilities to expand the scope and the geographical area of aid to Georgia were discussed.

During the meeting the director of RELI Mrs. Virginija Vaičekonienė presented the summary of the project, putting an emphasis on the changes influenced by its training program. She noted a significant influence of the project on economic development and strategic plan creation in three municipalities of the Guria region and a positive impact on small and medium business representatives in expanding their businesses and creating business contacts with Lithuanian firms. A need for the continuation of such similar programs was also discussed. The counselors suggested creating programs of a narrower focus which would deal with the promotion of democracy and economics, but would encompass more of Georgia’s regions.