Parliament has approved, with 81 votes in favour, the reorganisation of the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure, paving the way for the establishment of two separate entities: the Ministry of Regional Development and the Ministry of Infrastructure.

During the parliamentary plenary session, the Government’s Parliamentary Secretary, Vakhtang Bachiashvili, presented the legislative package on the draft amendments to the Law of Georgia on the Structure, Powers and Rules of Operation of the Government of Georgia in its first reading.

"This decision serves the effective implementation of the government’s programme. The programme presented by the Government of Georgia envisions significant and ambitious reforms in both regional development and infrastructure", - the presenter stated.

According to Bachiashvili, one ministry will be dedicated to infrastructure, while the other will focus on regional development.

"It is important to note that this decision is made on the principle that it will not lead to an increase in staffing numbers. The draft law provides for the redistribution of existing ministry personnel by thematic expertise across the two new ministries. The Ministry of Regional Development will also integrate the Government Administration’s Department of Regional Relations and the staffing of the Mountain Development Coordination Council to ensure that all central government competences and functions in the area of regional development are comprehensively covered", - V. Bachiashvili explained.

He further noted that the draft law obliges the Government of Georgia to establish a dedicated commission that will, within a set timeframe, oversee the redistribution of assets and liabilities between the newly designated successor ministries.