On September 17th, RCCHD within its 4th project component: Public Participation and Awareness Raising conducted a round-table discussion on the topic “Cultural Heritage and Development”. Deputy Ministers of Culture and Monuments’ Protection, Economy and Sustainable Development, Regional Development and Infrastructure, as well as the General Director of National Agency for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage of Georgia and National Tourism Administration as well as department heads from the Ministry of Finance and the Agency for Protected Territories took part in the event and participated in the discussion which was opened and moderated by RCCHD Project Coordinator, Ms. Nato Tsintsabadze from ICOMOS Georgia. The event was hosted by G. Chubinashvili National Research Center for Georgian Art History and Heritage Preservation.

The main issues raised concerned inter-sectorial cooperation between the different ministries and agencies for the protection and sustainable use of heritage resources, diversified schemes of heritage funding, distribution of responsibilities in heritage sector between the different state actors. The audience included heritage professionals from professional state institutions, civil society organisations, youth and other interested public. Totally the event was attended by around 70 persons and was covered by the press.