The Georgian government will create the Office of the State Minister for Regional Policy and abolish the Ministry of Regional Development as part of a restructuring aimed at strengthening governance in the country’s regions.
Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced the changes at a government briefing, saying Vice Prime Minister Mamuka Mdinaradze will lead the new office.
“The position of the State Minister for Regional Policy will be created within the structure of the Georgian government. This position will be held by Mamuka Mdinaradze, who will also serve as Vice Prime Minister,” Kobakhidze said. “The State Minister for Regional Policy will be responsible for ensuring the effectiveness of governance in the regions.”
The new office is expected to begin operating on September 1. Since establishing the position requires legislative amendments, Mdinaradze will first serve as Minister of Regional Development until the changes take effect in early September.
As part of the reform, the Ministry of Regional Development, which was established on January 1, 2025, following the division of the former Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development, will be abolished.
The PM said the ministry will no longer be needed once the new State Minister’s Office is in place.
“With the introduction of the Office of the State Minister for Regional Policy, the Ministry of Regional Development essentially loses its purpose and will accordingly be abolished in September,” Kobakhidze stated.
Current Regional Development Minister Kakha Guledani will become First Deputy Minister of Infrastructure. Guledani was appointed minister in April 2025.
The restructuring will also abolish the position of State Minister for Coordination of Law Enforcement Agencies, a post created only three months ago and held by Mdinaradze.
Kobakhidze said the work carried out during that period had established an effective coordination system, making the dedicated position unnecessary.
PM called on Parliament to approve the legislative package required to implement the government restructuring during the first week of the next parliamentary session.
