Tornike Rizhvadze

Tornike Rijvadze
Chairman of the Government of Adjara
Incumbent
Assumed office 21 July 2018
Preceded by	Zurab Pataradze
Personal details
Born	25 March 1989 Khulo, Adjarian ASSR, Georgian SSR, Soviet Union
Nationality	Georgian
Alma mater	Tbilisi State University (BA) Batumi State University (MIB) City, University of London (LLM) Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv (PhD)

Tornike Rijvadze (Georgian: თორნიკე რიჟვაძე; also transliterated as Rizhvadze; born 25 March 1989) is a Georgian politician and a former business executive. On 21 July 2018, he was elected and serves as Chairman of the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara. Rijvadze was nominated by the ruling Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia party and as the youngest Chairman in the history of Ajara Autonomous Republic his nomination was approved by 21-member legislature of Ajara. He had previously served as a deputy Minister of Energy of Georgia (2017) and, afterwards as a director of a state-owned JSC "Georgian Energy Development Fund".^[1]

Education and early career[]

Born in the town of Khulo, Rijvadze graduated from the Tbilisi State University with a degree in law in 2011. He holds MIB from Batumi State University (2014), LL.M from the City, University of London (2013), and PhD from the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv (2015). Prior to taking up the public duties, he held positions of the Legal Director and General Counsel at the biggest hydropower project development in Georgia worth USD 500 million. He has also held management level positions in venture-backed start up, intergovernmental and development organisations.^[2]

Chairman of the Government of the A/R Ajara[]

Rijvadze led the region through three elections (presidential, parliamentary and municipal) resulting in victory of Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia party.

Tornike Rijvadze increased sponsorship of social programs for those dealing with health issues. Thus providing citizens of the region with extra funding and support for their medical expenses. Most outstanding example of solving social issues includes an unprecedented decision – build houses for families living in a life-threatening environment in a self-made settlement, where more than 1000 children do not have proper living conditions.

Rijvadze supports economic diversification. In past two years 2 industrial zones have been established in 2 different municipalities.  First Zone has already attracted 16 investment projects within a year. Totally, the zone will create 1500 jobs and will attract around 75 million GEL private investments, while the second Industrial Zone will create around 1000 jobs and 40 million GEL investments.^[3]

Significant efforts have been also made to diversify one of the leading sectors in Ajara region - Tourism. The policy is focused on creating all possibilities for developing Sport tourism, MICE tourism, Eco end Ethno tourism.

In parallel with these developments, Ajara Autonomous Republic continued to pursue international recognition, which included the awards of Europe’s Leading Emerging Tourism Destination and the European City of Sport. The region hosted the President of the European Council Mr. Donald Tusk, held the NATO and PABSEC events, as well as Chess Olympiad and European Weightlifting Championship.

^[4]References[]