2021-12-18
Greetings, ladies and gentlemen! I greet every citizen of Georgia, members of the legislative and executive branches, Chairperson of the Supreme Court, Chairperson of the Constitutional Court, representatives of the Patriarchate, esteemed Ambassadors, Tbilisi Mayor, Chairperson of the Party!
Dear friends, today I would like to present to the public the Government's 2021 Performance Report and discuss generally the situation I found upon taking up the Office of Prime Minister, what have we been able to accomplish together, and what plans we have for the future.
Firstly, I would like to thank our people for their trust and loyalty expressed in the recent elections. People are the source of power and legitimacy, the reason why we the Government must reciprocate this mandate with accomplished work, loyalty and selflessness, and generated goods.
Serving one's country and people is a great honor and, at the same time, a great responsibility. It is also an opportunity to look after one's people and country, an opportunity to give one's all, be loyal in one's service to the country, protect our country's interests, our Faith and the Church, the institution of family, and make a difference in our people's everyday lives, improve their conditions, and bring development and prosperity to them. It is an opportunity and our duty at the same time, my friends!
It is an enormous honor to be our country's Prime Minister, leading the Government of the great political team defending, above all else, the interests of our state and people, our Faith, our Church, and our national values embracing a human being as the ultimate treasure. Most importantly, we are a Government that is part of the people, and we are familiar closely with the challenges facing society. The country's challenges and problems are of course many: occupation and restoration of territorial integrity, the country's reunification, also unemployment and poverty, polarization generated by destructive forces, and many other issues concerning our population. This is why must join forces and tackle these challenges, which is only possible with the right vision, reasonable and pragmatic policies serving national interests, selfless work around the clock, to put all these difficulties behind and guide our country and people toward a safe haven.
At the beginning of my speech, allow me to offer a brief overview of our country's challenges at the time of my nomination as Prime Minister by our team.
As you know, I took over the Government in a time of crisis, when political tensions were artificially brought to the boiling point, with destructive forces attempting to attack the state, and representatives of the opposition sabotaging parliamentary work. It must be clear to all that, if a state has ambitions of being a genuine state, it must observe key principles, uphold the rule of law, and fulfil obligations. Unfortunately, some politicians both at home and abroad defy these principles, consequently insulting the Georgian people and state institutions. Immediately upon taking over the Government, we started to strongly protect these principles, ensured order in the country, and kept everyone in their place, and it will continue this way. We will not bow to anyone, but we are not looking down on anyone either. Georgia is a sovereign state that belongs to our proud and freedom-loving people, and everyone must duly respect that. Under me as Prime Minister, not a single citizen will stand above the law, and not a single citizen will stand below the law, but when it comes to protecting the law and the Constitution, we will not seek anyone's permission. The law will always be fulfilled!
A considerable challenge was also posed by the recent local self-government elections passed off by the opposition as a referendum, the opposition that invested vast deception and violence resources in the election campaign. These anti-state forces were also planning to instigate a civil confrontation, but the state proved up to the task, as it has been and will be. Relevant agencies, exhibiting high professionalism, averted possible bloodshed and destabilization from our society. Our team carried out an exceptionally practical and peaceful election campaign, presenting large-scale and yet feasible timelines plans to the public and securing a sweeping victory in 63 municipalities. The Georgian people once again expressed their strong will and made their choice, so that the country may never return to the violent, unjust, and oppressive past. Georgian Dream is a strong team, a unity of professionals and patriots in its third term as the ruling force worthy of the people's trust since 2012. We are a force that guarantees the irreversibility of Georgia's democratic development, peace, and stability.
Unfortunately, along with a political crisis, I also found a deep economic crisis, with the addition of the pandemic triggering a global crisis that has seriously affected Georgia as well. Many lost their jobs, many business entities stopped operating, and a number of economic activities were put on hold. The share of Georgia's informal economy in the GDP is still quite high, a problem posing a special challenge to the state, because recompensing the crisis-related damage has proved difficult for those informally employed. Consequently, we, together with our team, reconsidered applicable restrictions and, by striking a balance between protecting health economic interests, assisted economic recovery and stimulation to bring about tangible results. The economy has been rapidly recovering over the past few months, and gradually the exchange rate of GEL has grown stronger as a result. The January-February GDP was negative, but the subsequent monthly economic growth has resulted in positive statistics, and in four of the past eight months, we have had an economic growth in double digits, expecting the same at the end of the year, an unprecedented feat, next only to Ireland, not only in the region, but across Europe as well. I believe that the public clearly sees the contrast between approaches to economic management and outcomes, also noticing the recent improvement in parameters. Of course, there is much more work to be done to make sure that these positive trends are felt firsthand by every household. In 2022, we expect the economy to grow by at least 6%, while the overall volume of the economy will be 65 billion GEL, meaning that GDP per citizen will exceed 5,500 USD, which is a historical maximum. At the same time, we will reduce the national debt and the budget deficit.
Next year's budget involves raises in public service, by about 10%, a process that continue systematically in subsequent years.
In addition, from January of 2022, pensions for those over 70 will be 260 GEL, while in mountainous areas, with the addition of supplements, pensions will be as high as 312 GEL. Pensioners aged 70 and over will receive 300 GEL, and pensions of the same category in mountainous areas will make up 360 GEL.
Also, monthly assistance for war veterans will grow from 22 to 100 GEL. In July of 2021, assistance doubled for children from socially vulnerable families, to make up 100 GEL per child.
Unfortunately, in the situation that I found, the epidemiological situation was dire, and there were no sufficient supplies of vaccines in the country. Immediately upon taking up the Office of Head of Government, I started actively supporting the process of vaccination, while also conducting successful negotiations with the WHO Secretary General. I also held personal talks with the Pfizer President and equally productive communication with the Chinese Prime Minister to ensure that Georgia, despite the then global shortage, might receive sufficient supplies of vaccines as fast as possible. As a result of close communication with international partners and friend countries, and with assistance from private manufacturers, the US Government and President Biden, and the Chinese Prime Minister, Georgia did receive enough vaccines.
For our population, we delivered almost 5 million doses: 2 million doses of Pfizer, 1,700,000 doses of Sinopharm, 1,100,000 doses of Sinovac, AstraZeneca, and so on. We gave our citizens freedom of choice to pick vaccines by manufacturer. In addition, the EU recognized Georgian COVID certificates, and Georgia joined the relevant single EU digital system.
The Government carried out an active awareness campaign and, by introducing incentives and direct restrictions alike, fostered the process of vaccination. As of today, over 2 million doses have been administered to more than 1 million people, though it is not enough, of course. That is why I once again urge our population, those still unvaccinated, to claim their shots, because this is the only safe and effective way to protect ourselves and our loved ones, and to defeat the pandemic.
This year, we conducted our foreign policy quite successfully. In the international arena, I participated in top-level forums and meetings. Two days ago, I returned from Brussels where I participated in the 6th Eastern Partnership Summit that has brough about concrete, tangible results for Georgian citizens. The summit's political declaration reflects key issues prioritized by us and recognized our European choice and aspirations.
On the margins of the visit to Brussels, I had a meeting with the NATO Secretary General. We discussed the agenda of our relations and NATO membership supported by our population's vast majority and representing the priority of our country's foreign and security policy. I would like to repeat that Georgia has all the practical tools to join NATO, the reason why it is important to set the stage for a political decision on Georgia's accession to NATO. The NATO Secretary General singled out our efforts in the fight against international terrorism, a cause we have been serving in Afghanistan for many years, also expressing his gratitude for our participation in the evacuation of thousands of people from Afghanistan.
Allow me to touch on the issue of attracting FDIs. In Brussels, we signed an important agreement with Rothschild & Co, one of the world's largest financial groups, second in the world and first in Europe, which is about to start working on a strategy for Georgia's transformation into a regional financial hub, also to work on attracting investors, investments, and additional financial resources.
Georgia continues to play an important role in the international agenda, and our relations with strategic partners has grown even more intense across a variety of areas. Georgia is a reliable partner of America and the EU in the region, as evidenced by Georgia's successful mediation between our neighbors, with participation from the US and the EU. As you remember, thanks to my successful mediation, in June of 2021, the Governments of Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a crucial agreement. Consequently, the Azerbaijani Government released 15 Armenian POWs, and Armenia provided Azerbaijan with maps of mined territories, a clear example of close cooperation with the West and active engagement in the region's geopolitical processes.
With Georgian Dream at the helm, the country is close to Europe and America as ever. I was honored and overjoyed to sign the Association Agreement with the EU and the DCFTA. And it was under Georgian Dream that visa-free travel was introduced and free trade started with Europe, preceded by the successful fulfilment of all obligations under the Visa Liberalization Action Plan during my first tenure as Prime Minister.
We are the force that has rejected imprudent and adventurist policy in relations with Russia, also declaring peaceful and pragmatic policy as the only way to resolve our main problem of occupation, territorial integrity, and de-occupation-the policy presently implemented with the engagement of our partners in formats of international dialogue.
Before discussing large-scale plans for the future, allow me to touch on several initiatives announced recently, and to remind our population about their importance.
Firstly, it is our labor and social policy. Unfortunately, as a result of total privatization and the collapse of state institutions after regaining independence, state properties were wasted, ruined, and everything was in shambles, including scientific research institutes, with knowledge and product generation reduced to next to nothing. Next, neither façade rapid reforms nor total deregulation policy could help social inequality, and the lives of ordinary citizens would not improve on their own. Our population's main problems of unemployment and poverty were not solved either. After Georgian Dream's coming to power in 2012, however, we, through our social policy and healthcare reforms, through enhancing the role of the state-meaning the creation various grant-giving and co-financing mechanisms to stimulate businesses and ordinary citizens alike-ensured a tremendous improvement in economic parameters and significantly reduced the level of inequality. Despite holding leading positions in international rankings, or actually improving loves, our economy still faces structural problems. One such problem is the current social policy that pushes 300,000 able-bodied citizens of about 600,000 socially vulnerable citizens toward unemployment and inactivity. This is why we must create public workplaces and engage them in the country's building, motivating them to start working besides receiving social assistance, enabling them to enhance their qualifications or learn new professions. Employing massive workforce and engaging it in the economy will allow for gradually cutting the numbers of social assistance recipients and offer them decent wages instead by employing and engaging them in the process of state-building, and turning these able-bodied citizens into competitive and motivated persons fully present in the labor market. I emphasize that, in the process of mass employment, assistance will not be removed from those socially vulnerable. Instead, they will receive salaries for concrete social causes. It is common knowledge that assistance alone, along with unemployment, and absence of motivation push people toward gambling, using drugs in bad company, and ruining their own and their loved ones' lives. This must stop!
A few weeks ago, I presented another initiative for adopting mechanisms to tax online casinos, gambling businesses, to increase the tax base by 65-70%. In addition, gambling advertisements will be banned, and citizens under 25 will be prohibited from participation in gambling.
Said restriction will apply to socially vulnerable persons, recipients of state assistance, all public servants and persons requesting from the Revenue Service to use self-restricting mechanisms, also to those blacklisted based on a county decision and a request from family members. In all, access to gambling will be denied to almost 1,000,000 underage citizens.
This initiative does not seek to jeopardize this sector, but to ensure care for our citizens, our youth, our future generations. As for this sector and land-based casinos, we have a different approach here. This industry will enjoy assistance and encouragement to ensure that economic activities and tourism potential are developed further. For example, on my initiative, we will create a special economic zone in the 300-ha territory of a former proving ground in Gonio, to feature a new business center, hotels, and casinos. We intend to launch this project in 2022.
Another step to be taken based on my instructions involves strict control over sale of psychotropic medications, a serious problem and pressing issue that will be solved surely.
We also plan to regulate the pharmaceuticals market to change today's approach to growing medication prices and reduce the money spent by citizens from their pockets. Talks with businesses are underway, and our population will soon see changes.
One of the key priorities of our Government is respect for human rights. Next year, the new Human Rights Strategy seeking to cement the highest human rights standards will be submitted to the Parliament.
Georgia's success in various international rankings continues. For example, the TRACE International Bribery Risk Matrix ranks Georgia among the top 20 countries in Europe and 30 around the globe, while ranking ranks 1st in one of the subdomains assessing low government-related corruption risks, a result of our Government's reforms in various directions, such as anticorruption legislation, engagement of civil society, and government openness.
According to the Global Corruption Index 2021, Georgia has improved its position by 9 points, an important and tangible result for our country.
In this year's Worldwide Governance Indicators, the World Bank ranks Georgia among the top 20 countries. This index draws on such indicators as business environment, infrastructure, public services, corruption index, and financial stability.
In terms of government effectiveness, Georgia is the leader in the Black Sea and Caucasus regions, ahead of many advanced countries in the world.
I would also like to offer a brief overview of the most important projects from our 10-year plan, with their implementation to launch next year. These projects will advance Georgia's development to a qualitatively new level and empower it in every direction. It is a fact that no country in the world develops without a concrete, realistic, chronologically arranged plan. This year, on my instructions, every Ministry developed a list of current challenges, and 10-year action plans were referred to the public. I would like to return to these projects expected to be implemented next year.
In the economic direction, under Produce in Georgia, our program for co-financing enterprise and hotel loans has benefited a total of over 1,000 projects by 735 enterprises over these years, with almost 2 billion GEL invested and 26,000 jobs created.
In 2022, business assistance programs will continue expanding. If almost 1,400 businesses have benefited from the industrial and credit scheme since inception, now we plan to help an additional 1,500 businesses to develop and attract financial resources in the next 2 years. Next year's budget includes about 270 million GEL for this direction.
On September 1, 2021, Business Export and Business Universal programs were launched to apply to 350 business activities and, along with providing a loan interest and collateral scheme, provide beneficiaries with grants as well. Alongside export and import-replacing enterprises, assistance will also be provided to agritourism and ecotourism business projects.
This year, micro-programs have financed 689 projects and employed an addition 2,500 people.
This year, under the business assistance component for subsidizing loans, 327 projects were also financed to cumulatively attract almost 520 GEL in investments and created almost 5,200 jobs.
The credit/grant scheme of the Produce in Georgia program has been used by 184 beneficiaries, and in excess of 2,500 jobs have been created as a result.
This year, a new program for subsidizing mortgage loans was also launched to have already benefited almost 900 of our fellow citizens and their families. The program's beneficiaries are large families and households with newborns, with each now being able to improve their living conditions and buy apartments with the help of our program.
On my instructions, work is underway on new tourism projects. New tourism locations will be created in every municipality across the country, and the implementation of concrete projects will start next year.
IT projects will be implemented as well. In 2022, a large-scale will be launched to retrain about 5,000 people, providing them with qualification-enhancement assistance, so that they may develop into competitive workforce in the international market. Next year, the process of developing an innovative ecosystem will also continue. In addition, the Georgian Government, for the first time, will no longer receive a loan to finance startups, instead using the state budget. I express our gratitude to all donors who, over the years, have been financing this important direction of our economy.
The state gasification program will also continue. So far, gas supplies have been provided to almost 17,000 new subscribers in 107 settlements.
A new aerial lift complex has been finalized and now runs trial operations on Mount Zuruldi, Svaneti. For winter season, the latest gondola-type aerial lift complex will be commissioned. The newly reconstructed Kohta aerial lift will operate at full throttle.
This year, agreements on the construction of power plants were signed, including 27 HPPs with a total installed capacity of 152 MW, with about 230 million USD to be invested.
We are also working on the development of solar and wind power stations. For example, this year we signed wind farm projects with a total installed capacity of 206 MW to generate about 812 million kWh on average every year.
This year, agreements on the technical and economic study of two wind power stations, with a total installed capacity of about 30 MW and generation of about 108 million kWh, were also signed with a view to subsequent ownership and operation.
Studies will be finalized, and we will advance to piloting toward the latest technology of green hydrogen. Active measures will be taken to adopt energy efficiency approaches among users.
As for the Finance Ministry, our key objective in the coming years will be to maintain macroeconomic stability and fiscal sustainability. Notably, before the end of this year, VAT returns will exceed 1.9 billion GEL, up by 1.1 billion compared to the old system.
The strategic goals of debt management include reducing the government debt, increasing the share of GEL in the overall government debt, development of the government bond market, and increased focus on external debt development. This year, we are starting to reduce the state deficit annually. In 2024, the government debt will drop lower than 50% of GDP.
A complex reform of state-owned enterprises will be implemented, followed by forming enterprises encouraging economic growth instead of increasing risks.
As for education, important steps have been taken under Georgian Dream's Government. So far, 174 new schools have been built, and 257 public schools have been fully rehabilitated. Notably, 64 schools were built and 64 were rehabilitated this year alone.
Important steps were taken recently toward developing the Hadron Therapy Center at Kutaisi International University. The center, built with financing from our party's founder Bidzina Ivanishvili and his Cartu Foundation, will house 2 cyclotrons assembled by IBA, one of the world's leading companies, and presently under testing. One cyclotron will be used to treat tumors, which is very important to children suffering from tumors. The second cyclotron will be designated for scientific research in medical and nuclear physics. The Hadron Therapy Center will serve its first patient in 2024.
Next year, the current system of accreditation of higher education educational programs will also change. We plan to adopt cluster accreditation developed on the initiative of the Ministry of Education. It will contribute tremendously to developing educational quality under educational programs, and to the international recognition of certificates issued in Georgia.
On December 7, an agreement on the new Georgia-EU Research and Innovation Framework Program Horizon Europe was signed in Brussels, a groundbreaking event. To finalize the rehabilitation of Evgeni Kharadze National Astrophysical Observatory of Georgia, an additional 10 million GEL will be allocated next year, to ensure the observatory's full renovation, restoration of telescopes, and purchase of new ones. A museum of modern sciences will also be established in Abastumani. Fairly soon, the observatory's international supervisory board will be put together to advance it to a new level of development. Dear friends, let me remind you that, in February of 2022, a Georgian studies program will launch for the first time at Harvard University under the leadership of American scholar and Georgian studies expert Stephen Jones, PhD.
As for the Government's achievements and directions in healthcare and social policies, the main priority will be, of course, the Universal Healthcare Program with its financing to grow by 20 million in 2022. It is also planned to equalize the salaries of ambulance doctors and personnel in Tbilisi and the regions, another important step toward healthcare reform.
Next year, systems for continuously monitoring blood glucose levels in children with diabetes will also be financed, with school physician services and the operations health offices in schools to be carried out in line with a standard developed by the Ministry. More than 3,000 refugee families have received apartments this year, and the same number will enjoy new residences next year as well. I already mentioned pensions and other tools for improving the social conditions of our citizens next year.
Ad for defense priorities, allow me to point out that one of our Government's key priorities is, of course, upgrading our country's defense capabilities, enhanced compatibility with NATO, and eventual integration into this organization. Ensuring decent social conditions for service members and their families, has always been our main task.
To improve conditions for service members, raises are planned as early as January, by 20% and 10% for lower- and higher-ranking service members, respectively.
Growing salaries will turn into an irreversible process to continue systematically in the years to come. We plan important changes in the Code of Defense as well.
The construction of Army City will be finalized next year. Based on this project, 39 7-story residential buildings have been constructed on Mount Makhata, and 1090 service members will receive apartments soon, in a matter of months, on unprecedentedly beneficial terms and through in-house financing.
Over the past 2 years, we have succeeded in equipping and rehabilitating all our military bases in line with modern standards. The process of reviving army aviation has started, and work on restoring, rehabilitating, and modernizing existing aircraft is in full swing.
The Georgian army industry is on the rise. This year, we launched the production of NATO-standard GI-4 automatic rifles in Georgia. A Georgian-Israeli enterprise, Delta CAA, opened at Delta to manufacture NATO-standard automatic rifles.
A very important process of developing unmanned aircraft for Georgia's Defense Force has started. In near future, presentations of Georgian-Polish and Georgian-Israeli manufacturers is planned. Thanks to Delta, we have rolled out a new, modernized reconnaissance vehicle that was presented to the public a few days ago.
In a few months, we will submit to the Parliament an updated version of the National Security Concept, a fundamental document. In the same vein, the Risk Assessment Paper and the National Defense Strategy will be updated as well, to be approved by the Government within the next 3-4 months. In February, we also intend to submit to the Parliament the Bill on Protecting Critical Infrastructure.
As for agriculture, our goal is to empower entrepreneurs and farmers to generate competitive Georgian goods.
Our achievements in this direction are evidences by statistics. A total of 560 million GEL has been spent from the budget on the Agricultural Credit Program, with 121 million GEL to be spent in 2022.
This year, the numbers of contract employees have grown by 20,000, while the numbers of those employed in rural areas have exceeded 40,000. Wine export is up from 23 million to 96 million, and the revenues received have grown from 75 million to 220 million USD. In the past 8 years, our vineyard-keepers have sold 1.8 billion USD's worth of grapes.
New perennial orchards have been built on almost 14,000 hectares across the country through the programs of the Rural Development Agency. With the state's financial support, more than 250 new enterprises, and more than 1,000 have been reequipped and are up and running.
This year, we also started a large-scale project for co-financing agricultural mechanization which seeks to mobilize 150 million GEL's worth of agricultural machinery of various sizes in the regions.
Under our Government, 368 amelioration infrastructure projects, resulting an increase of the area of irrigated lands from 45,000 ha to 160,000 ha, including water provided to villages with arable lands previously remaining without irrigation for 20-30 years.
Important environmental projects have been implemented as well. Under our Government, the area of protected territories has grown to 280,000 ha, an unprecedented increase. As of today, the area of protected territories makes up 11.5% of the country's total territory.
As for infrastructure, this direction will also enjoy record-breaking financing. This year, we plan to launch very important projects. Besides, we have launched urban renovation programs in all municipalities. At the initial stage, about 500 million GEL will be spent to this end, and we will finalize this project in a few months. The total budget will constitute 3.3 billion GEL, 16% up compared to this year and 28% up compared to the entire budget of the Ministry of Infrastructure in 2020.
An additional 50 km of the East-West Highway will be commissioned as well, to reduce travel time by an additional 20 minutes. After the completion of the East-West Highway, as a result of putting all sections into operation, travel time from Tsiteli Khidi to Sarpi will be cut in half to make up 4 hours instead of 8.
This year, we also opened very important roads, such as the 51-km connector between Imereti and Racha, making it possible to travel from Tbilisi to Oni in just 3 hours, and already having expanded visitor numbers in the region. Continuous work is underway on large-scale water supply projects. Presently, thanks to ongoing projects, improved water supply is provided to 360,000 people in 150 settlements, of which 200,000 have never had access to water supply. In 4 years, all cities will enjoy 24/7 water supply.
As for culture, sports, and youth affairs, we plan to have important events in this direction this year. As you know, we will host EuroBasket, and we must be prepared for it well, of course. Georgia will host scores of tourists in 2022. The Judo Grand Slam will be held here, and so will be wrestling, fencing, rugby, boxing, winter sports, and other competitions.
Cultural heritage is our country's treasury and calling card. Cherishing and protecting is especially important and requires involvement from highly professional experts. Ms. Tsulukiani has taken important steps in this direction.
I have already discussed foreign affairs at length. We have had very successful foreign policy work, including a number of extremely positive visits in the region. We are continuing cooperation in this direction, and our visits to the region's countries will intensify further. Working on the implementation of the results of the Eastern Partnership Summit will be one of the key tasks. Duly reflecting the issue of Georgia at the NATO Summit will be one of our key working areas in 2022, along with encouraging greater NATO presence in the Black Sea. We will continue strengthening pour partnership with the US in every direction under the Strategic Partnership Charter. Our political dialogue and coordination with the US will remain on the present top level. Besides, one of the key directions will be strengthening Georgia's political and economic relations with Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Turkey, also maximally tapping into available potential, and developing regional infrastructural projects.
As for the police forces and the Interior Ministry, I would like to thank Mr. Gomelauri and each police officer for their service. Our effective police work is recognized by numerous authoritative international organizations. Allow me to remind you that, according to American Gallup's index, Georgia ranks among the top 20 countries in the world, alongside Germany, Sweden, and Malta. That should be credited to our police forces, of course. The index draws on a global survey assessing personal safety and people's experiences related to crime and law enforcements, and so on. This year, the statistics of solved cases has grown from 30% to 47%. Mr. Gomelauri intends to develop new infrastructural projects tom improve police services, including the population's increased access to e-services, also the establishment of umbrella service centers in Batumi, Kutaisi, and Telavi, as well as updating the vehicle fleet.
The Justice Ministry has very important and ambitious plans. This year, Mr. Bregadze engaged very actively in this direction. The nationwide process of land registration is underway. This 3-year project is designed to survey and register 1,200,000 hectares of land. We also have excellent initiatives for developing new products. For example, the private sector will be able to enjoy one-window business-related state services, under one roof. We plan to continue working on a switchover to the Digital Public Service Hall, a modern digital continuation of the development of existing public service halls. A mobile Digital Public Service Hall application will be developed to presented to our population within the next few months. This application will enable users to access any service without leaving home. We also plan to develop a fourth-generation biometric passport that will be presented to the public in a few months. We also plan to introduce next-generation IDs.
With coordination from the Office of the State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality, a strategic review of the state policy for reconciliation and engagement for the occupied regions is underway, to be finalized in 2022 and meet the needs and interests of the populations in the occupied territories and along the dividing lines. New visions and opportunities will be presented to the conflict-affected populations.
Work will continue on providing the populations of the occupied regions with access to quality education and medical services, and to meet their needs arising from to the pandemic. Support for trade and business projects under the Peace Fund on either side of the dividing lines is important to us. We will continue assisting the populations along the dividing lines and promoting the effective operations of infrastructural, social and economic, and educational programs targeting relevant needs.
Dear friends, this has been only a small portion of the projects intended by the Government for implementation in 2022.
As we summarize the results of our work and discuss further development today, I would like to thank everyone who has worked selflessly for the country's progress, each public servant, each employee of each Ministry, representatives of all levels. I am grateful to the Parliament, each MP, and each member of our strong team. I am grateful to our foreign partners, our true friends, for their support and solidarity. I am grateful to each member of our society, everyone contributing to Georgia's success. Special thanks go to our exemplary police officers, our hero service members, each employee and the Head of the State Security Service. Special thanks to our hero doctors. Thank you to our Church and Patriarchate. Thank you to our people!
I strongly believe that the public will support the Government's initiatives, so that together we may succeed in advancing Georgia to a new level in its development. And we, of course, must give our best in our service to our country and people with all our hearts, selflessly, we must do our best for our population and country. We must create jobs, overcome poverty, and bring peace and prosperity to our people. We must introduce development and progress to every region, every city, every municipality. The coming years must be years of peace, stability, development, and building! I thank all of you. I wish you health, happiness, peace, and success in the year 2022!
May God be our protector!