PM appoints Mikheil Daushvili as new Business Ombudsman

Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia has appointed Mikheil Daushvili as Business Ombudsman. Gakharia announced this at the beginning of Thursday’s government session.

PM welcomed Daushvili to the team and talked about strong Georgian business being the most important aspect in overcoming the economic challenges through creating new additional jobs and therefore overcoming social hardship that the country is still facing.

“Therefore, everyone should understand that supporting business where the law allows, will be Mr. Mikheil’s main task and I am confident that he will do his job with dignity,” said Gakharia.

PM Gakharia said that effective cooperation between the executive branch and the business ombudsman's office is crucial.

“I would like to tell every businessman, representative of our private sector, I promise that all the problems that will be brought to Mikheil Daushvili will be in the PM’s office within a few minutes”, - said PM Gakharia.

Daushvili worked as Legal Adviser for the Economic Council at the time when Gakharia was the Secretary of the Economic Council and the business ombudsman; and after Gakharia became Minister of Internal Affairs, Daushvili moved to the Ministry of Internal Affairs as well, serving as Deputy Head of Administration of the ministry.

Master of Law, Daushvili has served as the First Deputy Chairman of the National Agency of State Property at various times, Head of the Parliamentary Relations Division of the Legal Department of the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development.

He was recently appointed Deputy Director of the Information-Analytical Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia.

New business ombudsman Daushvili plans to quickly identify and help in solving the problems that business entities in Georgia face today, saying that addressing existing challenges cannot be achieved without business development and support.

“The main mandate and responsibility of a business ombudsman are to be a major supporter of protecting business rights and legitimate interests, and you know that our state's main challenge today is jobs and improving working conditions for our people.”- Daushvili announced.

Daushvili’s precursor, Irakli Lekvinadze and his deputy Levan Kalandadze left their positions voluntarily on November 11 citing "agreed alternative plans" as the reason for resignation. Lekvinadze was appointed as business ombudsman by Ex-premier Giorgi Kvirikashvili in January 2018.