AER President and acting Secretary General went to Tbilisi (GE) in October. This visit came a few months after the regional elections in Georgia and the historical signature, in June, of an association agreement between EU and Georgia, which deepens political and economic ties in the framework of the Eastern partnership.

The timing was perfect to discuss the state of decentralisation and the role regions will play in the future. The delegation met with Alex Petriashvili, State Minister for European integration, who stressed the importance of the government decentralisation agenda and the role AER could play in helping both the State and the regions deliver more subsidiarity.

AER met Aleksandre Iosebashvili, deputy governor of the Imereti region, keen to be among the first new regions to join AER. Building on the positive experience of the Adjara region, an active AER member, and on the State commitment, the follow up is now being done to welcome new Georgian regions.

This trip was also the occasion to greet Innovator, member of the AER Business Community.