Georgia’s Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, David Songulashvili, opened the event by honouring veterinarians for their vital contributions to agriculture and public health. He emphasised that WOAH’s support underscores Georgia’s progress and the importance of global dialogue in addressing shared challenges.
WOAH Director General Dr Emmanuelle Soubeyran highlighted Georgia’s achievements in veterinary services, praising the country’s commitment to regional leadership.
"Our close collaboration with WOAH has played a significant role in strengthening our institutional capacities and bringing them closer to international standards,” said Giorgi Iakobashvili, Head of the National Food Agency.
A panel discussion was held as part of the conference. The parties addressed global and regional challenges in the veterinary sector, with particular emphasis on animal health protection measures, the prevention of transboundary diseases, the strengthening of laboratory capacities, and the implementation of the “One Health” approach.
Participants exchanged insights on critical issues, including transboundary disease prevention, laboratory capacity-building, and the “One Health” approach. A key outcome was the adoption of the Tbilisi Communiqué, a Georgia-led initiative to seek the official recognition of World Veterinary Day within the framework of the World Organisation for Animal Health and establish a specific date for its observance.
Representatives from across the region reaffirmed their dedication to closer cooperation, building on successes such as rabies control and inter-sectoral coordination between agriculture and health sectors.
“Events of this format facilitate knowledge exchange and provide an opportunity to deepen our cooperation further,” stated Mikheil Sarjveladze, Georgia’s Minister of Health, Labour and Social Affairs.
Within the conference, Dr Emmanuelle Soubeyran, WOAH Director General, alongside Georgia’s Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture David Songulashvili, awarded veterinarians and outstanding students for professional achievements.
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After the conference, Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, the country’s Chief State Veterinarian and WOAH Delegate, Lasha Avaliani, introduced the activities of the State Agricultural Laboratory to Dr Soubeyran, WOAH Regional Representative for Europe, Dr Budimir Plavsic, and the organization’s delegates.
Special attention was paid to the ongoing research in the field of animal disease diagnostics and modern technical capabilities, which ensure timely detection and effective management of diseases. The meeting also explored prospects for deepening international cooperation and future joint projects.
