Stepping Up Efforts for E-governance in Georgia

27.07.2021 — Article Georgia
The agile development of digital technologies, information and communication services has made it possible for people to receive and spread information at lightning speed, to communicate and participate in the processes which used to be inaccessible before. Easy access to government websites, information on budget expenditures, state auctions and programmes, news and innovations facilitates citizens’ participation in decision-making. The availability of information and communication technologies empowers citizens to become participants in the development processes. Georgia is a young democracy; its efforts to deploy information technology across the country make it a modern democracy as well.

1st of August address of the President of the Swiss Confereration

23.07.2021 — Local news Georgia

Protect the right to freedom of assembly at 2021 Pride Week in Tbilisi

01.07.2021 — Position Georgia
The Embassy of Switzerland in Georgia joins the statement issued by the United Nations system in Georgia, the Delegation of the European Union to Georgia, the Embassies to Georgia of Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Israel, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States, and the Head of the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia, in support of equality and human rights for everyone in Georgia. 

Call for proposals

16.06.2021 — Press release Georgia
The Swiss Cooperation Office (SCO) for the South Caucasus is calling for proposals by civil society organizations, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and foundations registered in Georgia to strengthen the civil society and widen the civic space in the priority areas of migration and media.

All-in-one digital system for animal health and food safety

06.05.2021 — Article Georgia
In 2021, Georgia will have its first ever digital National Animal Identification and Traceability System (NAITS). While the name is quite self-explanatory, in practical terms it means permanent identification and traceability ‘from farm to fork’. The phrase “from farm to fork” was coined for a system of identification of animal products back to farm premises.  Once fully implemented, this real-time online database of animals will allow Georgian policy-makers to act quickly in case of disease outbreaks and also, to introduce more tailored policies for the benefit of the sector. 

Important information: Entry regulation to Switzerland as of 08.02.2021

01.02.2021 — Press release Georgia

New rules for all airline passengers (both Georgian and foreign nationals) to Georgia will begin to apply from 1 February 2021

01.02.2021 — Local news Georgia
The Prime Minister-led Inter-Agency Coordination Council has introduced new rules for all airline passengers (both Georgian and foreign nationals) to Georgia. The rules will begin to apply from 1 February 2021.

Coronavirus: Mandatory quarantine for persons arriving in Switzerland

07.12.2020 — Press release Georgia

Digitalization – a means or an end in itself?

03.12.2020 — Article Georgia
Today, hardly anyone can imagine being without a favourite smartphone that surfs the internet, plays games, and streams multimedia; in fact, nobody would even be able to contemplate a minute without internet access. Internet-capable smartphones have created the need for us to be instantly updated and constantly connected with the rest of the world.  Yet neither computers nor the Internet were initially created for entertainment purposes, instead being born out of the need to tackle problems, a fact that the COVID-19 pandemic has poignantly proved. With this, we start a new series of articles in which we will explore digitalization – as either a means or an end – in SDC-funded projects in the South Caucasus region.

Important information for all foreign citizens in Georgia

03.12.2020 — Local news Georgia

Georgia Joins the Equal Pay International Coalition

20.09.2020 — Article Georgia
18 September saw the first ever celebration of the International Equal Pay Day. On this day, Georgia officially declared its intention to join the Equal Pay International Coalition (EPIC). The decision will be consummated with the signing of the application this fall.

Women vis-a-vis the Pandemic

11.09.2020 — Article Georgia
The current year of 2020 has turned out to be very unusual. It became apparent rather early that the coronavirus was not just any other infection, but the cascade of shutdowns that followed could not have been predicted. It did not take long for institutions and companies, as well as entire districts and countries, to close down one after another, until the whole world found itself in quarantine. However, against this worrying background, three women from the South Caucasus countries saw a silver lining.

Call for proposals

16.06.2021 — Press release Georgia
The Swiss Cooperation Office (SCO) for the South Caucasus is calling for proposals by civil society organizations, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and foundations registered in Georgia to strengthen the civil society and widen the civic space in the priority areas of migration and media.

Important information: Entry regulation to Switzerland as of 08.02.2021

01.02.2021 — Press release Georgia

Coronavirus: Mandatory quarantine for persons arriving in Switzerland

07.12.2020 — Press release Georgia

Tender Announcement: Rural SMEs Development Project in Georgia

28.07.2020 — Press release Georgia

Switzerland and Austria extend support to the National Animal Identification and Traceability System in Georgia

16.06.2020 — Press release Georgia

The representatives of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) signed an agreement on the extension of support to the Government of Georgia to kick off a nation-wide Animal Identification and Traceability System (NAITS). The extension will allow to smoothly resume and complete the activities that were hampered amid the COVID-19 crisis.

Swiss travellers abroad should register on the "Travel Admin App”

19.03.2020 — Press release Georgia
Bern, 19.03.2020 - Earlier this week, the Federal Council called on Swiss travellers to return home quickly. In order to better support those who are still blocked abroad, they should register on the "Travel Admin App" of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA.

Inauguration of the new Embassy in Tbilisi

28.10.2019 — Press release Georgia
The Swiss delegation headed by the President of the Swiss Parliament, Mrs. Marina Carobbio Guscetti, visits Georgia to inaugurate the new Embassy of Switzerland in Tbilisi and to hold official meetings with Georgian dignitaries.

A New Unified Municipal Online Platform to Simplify Access to Services

30.09.2019 — Press release Georgia
The new Unified Municipal Online Platform will transition over 15 different municipal services into the virtual space giving immediate access to citizens in 63 municipalities of Georgia.

Switzerland and Georgia strengthen cooperation in the field of migration

17.09.2019 — Press release Georgia
Switzerland and Georgia are strengthening their respective efforts to tackle irregular migration. State Secretary Mario Gattiker and Georgian Minister of Internal Affairs  Vakhtang Gomelauri signed a joint declaration in Tbilisi on 16 September. Since 2018 Georgia is 5^th on the list of countries of origin for asylum applications in Switzerland. However, Georgian nationals have almost no chance of being granted asylum in Switzerland. To resolve the challenge related to unfounded asylum applications, Switzerland and Georgia have implemented different measures and are closely collaborating in the field of migration.

Switzerland Steps Up Cooperation on Climate Change Adaptation

20.02.2019 — Press release Georgia
On February 19^th, Switzerland, acting through the SDC, Green Climate Fund (GCF) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) announced a new joint programme to boost climate action. A seven-year, USD 70 million programme aims to protect over 1.7 million people, i.e. 40% of local population, from floods, droughts and other hazards by ensuring adequate response to climatic change.

Summarizing the results of the MOLI project

26.11.2018 — Press release Georgia
After five years of implementation, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) closes its MOLI project in Kakheti, one of Georgia’s agricultural regions. MOLI stands for Market Opportunities for Livelihood Improvement, but what does it really mean for both indirect and direct beneficiaries, partners, Government and the local population at length? The results of the project were presented at the conference on 22 November in Tbilisi.

Chairperson of the Parliament visits Switzerland

14.09.2018 — Press release Georgia
On 12 September 2018, a Georgian delegation headed by Mr. Irakli Kobakhidze, Chairperson of the Parliament of Georgia, paid an official visit to Switzerland upon an invitation made in 2016 by then-President of the National Council Christa Markwalder during her visit to Georgia.

Stepping Up Efforts for E-governance in Georgia

27.07.2021 — Article Georgia
The agile development of digital technologies, information and communication services has made it possible for people to receive and spread information at lightning speed, to communicate and participate in the processes which used to be inaccessible before. Easy access to government websites, information on budget expenditures, state auctions and programmes, news and innovations facilitates citizens’ participation in decision-making. The availability of information and communication technologies empowers citizens to become participants in the development processes. Georgia is a young democracy; its efforts to deploy information technology across the country make it a modern democracy as well.

1st of August address of the President of the Swiss Confereration

23.07.2021 — Local news Georgia

Protect the right to freedom of assembly at 2021 Pride Week in Tbilisi

01.07.2021 — Position Georgia
The Embassy of Switzerland in Georgia joins the statement issued by the United Nations system in Georgia, the Delegation of the European Union to Georgia, the Embassies to Georgia of Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Israel, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States, and the Head of the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia, in support of equality and human rights for everyone in Georgia. 

All-in-one digital system for animal health and food safety

06.05.2021 — Article Georgia
In 2021, Georgia will have its first ever digital National Animal Identification and Traceability System (NAITS). While the name is quite self-explanatory, in practical terms it means permanent identification and traceability ‘from farm to fork’. The phrase “from farm to fork” was coined for a system of identification of animal products back to farm premises.  Once fully implemented, this real-time online database of animals will allow Georgian policy-makers to act quickly in case of disease outbreaks and also, to introduce more tailored policies for the benefit of the sector. 

New rules for all airline passengers (both Georgian and foreign nationals) to Georgia will begin to apply from 1 February 2021

01.02.2021 — Local news Georgia
The Prime Minister-led Inter-Agency Coordination Council has introduced new rules for all airline passengers (both Georgian and foreign nationals) to Georgia. The rules will begin to apply from 1 February 2021.

Digitalization – a means or an end in itself?

03.12.2020 — Article Georgia
Today, hardly anyone can imagine being without a favourite smartphone that surfs the internet, plays games, and streams multimedia; in fact, nobody would even be able to contemplate a minute without internet access. Internet-capable smartphones have created the need for us to be instantly updated and constantly connected with the rest of the world.  Yet neither computers nor the Internet were initially created for entertainment purposes, instead being born out of the need to tackle problems, a fact that the COVID-19 pandemic has poignantly proved. With this, we start a new series of articles in which we will explore digitalization – as either a means or an end – in SDC-funded projects in the South Caucasus region.

Important information for all foreign citizens in Georgia

03.12.2020 — Local news Georgia

Georgia Joins the Equal Pay International Coalition

20.09.2020 — Article Georgia
18 September saw the first ever celebration of the International Equal Pay Day. On this day, Georgia officially declared its intention to join the Equal Pay International Coalition (EPIC). The decision will be consummated with the signing of the application this fall.

Women vis-a-vis the Pandemic

11.09.2020 — Article Georgia
The current year of 2020 has turned out to be very unusual. It became apparent rather early that the coronavirus was not just any other infection, but the cascade of shutdowns that followed could not have been predicted. It did not take long for institutions and companies, as well as entire districts and countries, to close down one after another, until the whole world found itself in quarantine. However, against this worrying background, three women from the South Caucasus countries saw a silver lining.

When a pandemic strikes, just play along

28.04.2020 — Article Georgia
On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organisation characterized COVID-19 as a pandemic. For Marneuli residents this became a daily experience from March 23, when the government put Marneuli under quarantine on the grounds that the source of infection of the COVID-19 in the municipality could not be traced. From that day on, Marneuli residents acutely realized that they have been plunged into the global health and economic crisis.

REMINDER to Swiss nationals visiting Georgia

19.03.2020 — Position Georgia

Der Bundesrat ruft Schweizer Touristen und Geschäftsreisende auf, jetzt in die Schweiz zurückzukehren und ihre Reise selbständig zu organisieren. 

Le Conseil fédéral invite les touristes et les voyageurs d'affaires suisses à rentrer maintenant en Suisse et à organiser leur voyage de manière autonome. 

Il Consiglio federale invita i turisti e i viaggiatori d'affari svizzeri a tornare in Svizzera e ad organizzare il loro viaggio in modo autonomo. 

The Federal Council invites Swiss tourists and travelling businesspersons to return to Switzerland and to organize their trip autonomously.

Female photographers ‘talk’ about tabooed social issues

08.03.2020 — Article Georgia
Stories are shaped by those who write, who create. In the modern world of abundant information, there is a growing need to tell the stories about people and social issues from diverse perspectives – from a female perspective. In 2018, SDC’s Regional Arts and Culture programme started to announce annual grants for female photographers from the South Caucasus to cover social issues and use the medium of photography as a powerful tool of storytelling. Through tailor-made mentoring, the female photographers also learn every nook and cranny of photography.