Mamuka Bakhtadze introduces the new Minister of Economy, Natia Turnava
By Nika Gamtsemlidze
Monday, April 22
During the briefing held in Tbilisi on April 19, the Prime Minister of Georgia, Mamuka Bakhtadze, announced that the new Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia will be Natia Turnava, who has served at the same ministry as the Deputy Minister since September 2018.
Kobulia became the Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development in the summer of 2018. Some people were questioning the reasoning behind his appointment at a high-profile job since the beginning. According to him, the reason for him coming back to Georgia was to help the country with his own 20 years of experience.
As Roman Kakulia, The Chairperson of the Sector Economy and Economic Policy Committee at the Parliament said, Kobulia did not have enough time to become a well-rounded Minister. “I’m not saying it critically, but it is a huge institution. He was not familiar with the situation; he came from another country.”
According to Bakhtadze, Kobulia is a “professional in his field and a strong economist” and he is glad that he had a chance of working with him.
As the Prime Minister said, Kobulia will remain a very strong figure in the country’s development - “This decision was made after I had a conversation with him. I’m sure that his work will be very useful for the country.”
Introducing the new Minister, Bakhtadze said - “I know Natia very well, we have worked together for at least 10 years. I am sure that her work will be very successful.”
“It is a great honor for me to lead the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development, which is the agency I know very well, this is the Ministry where high-level professionals are employed. We have a certain vision, specific assignments, tasks to be fulfilled in certain terms and I will do my best to justify the trust” – said Turnava during the briefing.
Before becoming a Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, Turnava has done a vast work in the field of economy. In 2000-2005 and 2005-2006 she was a deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development. Other than that, she has also worked as the deputy executive director of the Partnership Fund.
The PM noted that there are no major changes planned in the government yet, but “If any minister is not able to keep the pace, the response will not delay.”
