Subject: EWG _ AGENDA_clarifications
From: Nino Kharadze <[email-masked]>
To: "[email-masked]" <[email-masked]>, "[email-masked]" <[email-masked]>, "[email-masked]" <[email-masked]>, "[email-masked]" <[email-masked]>, "[email-masked]" <[email-masked]>, "[email-masked]" <[email-masked]>, "[email-masked]" <[email-masked]>, "[email-masked]" <[email-masked]>, "[email-masked]" <[email-masked]>, "[email-masked]" <[email-masked]>, "[email-masked]"
Cc: Gvaram Khandamishvili <[email-masked]>, Elene Khurtsilava <[email-masked]>, Khatuna Kveselava <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 10 May 2019 14:09:20 +0000

ძვირფასო კოლეგებო,

EWG-ის დღის წესრიგთან დაკავშირებით, ინფორმაციისათვის გიზიარებთ აშშ-ის მხარის კომენტარებს დღის წესრიგთან დაკავშირებით, რომელიც აშშ-ის
მხარემ მოგვაწოდა გენადი არველაძისა და აშშ-ის საელჩოს წარმომადგენლების შეხვედრის შედეგად:

o
Government Procurement Practices

§
The United States will raise concerns we’ve heard from U.S. businesses on government procurement issues in Georgia and also highlight the importance of a focus on quality, long-term
sustainability and life-cycle costs when considering procurement for infrastructure, services and equipment.  The USAID commissioned Georgia’s Innovation Strategy & Recommendation called for procurement reform, this will likely feature as a component of USAID’s
contribution to this section.

o
Institutionalizing Regulatory Impact Analysis and Ensuring the Sustainability of Public Policy Development Platform

§
We want to discuss efforts to ensure that government implements appropriate training to implement and institutionalize the Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) methodology, including
the GOG’s thoughts on laws and amendments that will need to undergo an RIA.

o
Strengthening Economic Ties with Occupied Territories

§
Yes, only the econ-related activities. There are a number of questions related to the new peace and development fund. One of which is the process for waivers for Abkhaz to trade in
Georgia. USAID’s YES program is providing entrepreneurial training and no-interest lending to Abkhaz entrepreneurs through Crystal MFO, which is exactly what this fund was set up to do, but in order for Crystal to be able to provide this lending they had to
go through over six months of bureaucratic processes. SMEs shouldn't have to wait that long and we should examine how to streamline processes in connection with the Step to a Better Future initiative.

o
Strengthening Workforce Development and Education

§
We would like to discuss workforce development as a key driver of economic growth in Georgia. We’d like to highlight the importance of sustaining the results of the MCC Compact to align
the supply/quality of the workforce with market demand in key growth industries and sectors.  Would also like to hear an update on education sector reforms related to education/workforce development, particularly in TVET and higher education.

§
In addition, the new USAID Economic Security Program will engage closely with Georgia’s private sector to support industry-driven improvements in training and educational opportunities
for the workforce in emerging sectors, including professional, management, and vocational skills development.  We potentially plan to expand these efforts in the future but would like to learn more about the Government of Georgia’s vision for this topic, including
the priorities of the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development and the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sport.

o
Update on Labor Reforms and the GSP Labor Rights Review

§
We want to discuss labor reform issues, but also in our response we will highlight the importance of labor reform in Georgia’s continued access to the GSP program.

o
Free Trade Agreement

§
We would be happy to hear Georgia’s thoughts on this under the “Strengthening Bilateral Trade and Investment Ties” agenda item.

o
Investment Screening and Investment Best Practices

§
We want to use the agenda item to outline the importance of adequate investment screening mechanisms and how the USG can support Georgia’s efforts to create an investment
screening mechanism.

o
Update on Anaklia Port

§
We would like a status update on the project, and we want to highlight our thoughts the importance of the project to regional connectivity.

o
Strengthening Bilateral Cooperation on Global Digital Connectivity

§
We included this item because it was a Georgian lead item this year, and we expected that Georgia would want it on the agenda.  We are happy to drop the topic if the Georgians do not
want it included.

პატივისცემით,

ნინო ხარაძე

Nino Kharadze (Ms)

Counsellor/
The US & Canada Division /
Department of the Americas /
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia /

4 Sh. Chitadze Street, 0118, Tbilisi, Georgia
/
Office: (+995-32) 2945000 ext. 1503; M: (+995) 599180390  E: [email-masked]