Untapped Opportunities for Strengthening and Expanding Georgia: International Forum on Cooperation and Development in Education, Research, and Health Care July 9-12 Tbilisi, Georgia

The nonprofit NGO international association Kvali (http://www.kvali.org), in collaboration with different organizations and universities, is organizing a four-day workshop to be held July 9-12 in Tbilsi, Georgia. The purpose of this significant event is to establish a progressive working forum of scientists, educators, managers, technologists, and doctors---familiar with Georgia's situation---who believe the major impact of Georgia's transformation can and should take place via restructure and reform of its education, research, and health care systems.

(PRWEB) May 21, 2004 -- The small Caucasus' country of Georgia is currently undergoing a new political and economic transformation, perhaps the most critical one in its history. This is a difficult, even painful, transformation which is being closely watched by all Georgians, the Georgian Diaspora, and friends of Georgia abroad. There is much at stake and we cannot afford to see it fail. United we must stand to strengthen and expand opportunities for Georgia!

Georgia has experienced a substantial outflow of its countrymen during the last fifteen years. About one million (20% of the population) of the most gifted and active Georgians have left the county. This situation leaves Georgia, its institutions and people, in a very difficult position to secure future growth and prosperity; however, at the same time, this phenomenon provides exciting new challenges and interesting opportunities, untapped opportunities for new and creative ways of thinking and collaborating, new and improved models for doing business in the global marketplace.

Georgians now residing outside of Georgia constitute a substantial intellectual power - western educated scientists, professors, teachers, doctors, lawyers, technology specialists, and businessman - whose knowledge and expertise is so desperately needed in making Georgia's transformation a positive one. There is substantial support from the international community, including friends of Georgia and Georgian emigrants currently residing in the USA and other countries, who recognize that the success of Georgia is not just in the interests of this small Caucasus country but ultimately with all of us, which makes our challenge even bigger, and yet not insurmountable. With your help and support, with cooperation and assistance from the public and private sectors interested in Georgia, we can be positive change agents for the future.

The Kvali Organization invites and encourages you to join us in important, interesting and timely discussions on how to develop effective, sustainable, and enduring cooperation between Georgia and the rest of the world. Integration of Georgia into the global intellectual space is perceived to be one of the key opportunities toward helping Georgia and defining its overall long term well-being.

To register and obtain detailed information about the International Forum, and more about the Kvali Organization and our projects, please visit our website http://www.kvali.org and contact Shota Vashakidze via email or phone. The Forum is truly international in scope and is not limited to any one or two countries. Georgians, Georgian Diaspora, and friends of Georgia, representatives from all public and private sectors worldwide who are interested and able to help Georgia's transformation, are welcome and highly encouraged to participate. If you are unable to join us in Tbilisi but wish to share your ideas about cooperation and collaboration with Georgia please complete a questionnaire found on our website http://www.kvali.org/forum, additionally one is attached to this press release for your convenience.

We are currently seeking additional funding support. This is so critical to our success and we need your help! Shota Vashakidze, Kvali's founding President, Debra Schaffer, Executive Director, and all of Kvali's members worldwide wish to thank in advance all educational, research, medical, business, and government institutions for their willingness to contribute to Kvali's courageous and forward-thinking activities. Please contact us for more information about making a financial donation, supporting our Organization, and participating in promoting Georgia's changing legacy.