Speaker Papuashvili: Georgia needs its diaspora, and the diaspora needs a strong Georgia

“I am delighted to welcome our compatriots residing across the globe to Tbilisi today, particularly extending my greetings to those who have travelled long distances to return to their homeland,” declared Speaker of the Parliament Shalva Papuashvili, addressing a formal reception hosted in honour of the Georgian diaspora.

Highlighting the historic role of emigrant communities, Papuashvili underscored that the diaspora is fundamentally intertwined with the nation’s destiny.

“In different eras, it was precisely Georgians living abroad who preserved our language, our culture, our historical memory, and the very idea of Georgian liberty. They established community groups, churches, schools, and cultural centres, often at times when space for national freedom within Georgia itself was severely constricted. Thus, our diaspora is not merely a byproduct of history; it is an integral component of Georgia’s national fabric.

Today, hundreds of thousands of our compatriots live worldwide as fully integrated members of their host societies, excelling in science, business, the arts, sports, and civic life. Every success they achieve is a victory for Georgia as well. But the weight of the diaspora is not measured solely by prominent figures; behind it lies the daily hard work, family dedication, and enduring national devotion of countless individuals,” Papuashvili said.

The Parliamentary Speaker acknowledged that for decades, financial support sent from abroad served as a lifeline for thousands of families during Georgia’s most hardship-laden years. Now, he noted, this relationship must evolve from basic support into a dynamic driver of development.

“Today, the economic capacity of the Georgian diaspora is assuming a broader significance, manifested in knowledge, professional networks, investments, and fresh opportunities. Georgia requires not merely a passive connection with its diaspora, but its active participation in state-building.

We need the scientist who shares expertise with Georgian universities; the entrepreneur who sees potential in the home market; the young graduate who applies overseas education for their country’s advancement; the artist who introduces our culture to new audiences; and every compatriot capable of speaking the truth about Georgia in the societies where they live. In a modern world where its international human and intellectual network defines a small state’s global clout, every Georgian abroad serves, in effect, as an ambassador for our nation,” the Speaker added.

Papuashvili stressed that preserving national identity across younger generations born overseas remains an imperative national objective.

“Georgia is not merely a geographical space; it is language, historical memory, culture, faith, family ties, traditions, and that profound sensation linking a person to their homeland, no matter how many thousands of kilometres lie between them. Preserving this bond is essential for our demographic future. We want a country to which returning is worthwhile: where knowledge gained abroad can be deployed, where businesses can be launched, and where families can thrive. Recent economic growth is increasingly turning the prospect of return into a reality alongside our long history of emigration.

You can live in Paris, Rome, Berlin, New York, or Athens and remain a vital part of Georgia’s national existence. Distance does not sever our connection. Georgia needs its diaspora, and the diaspora needs a strong Georgia. The state’s task is to make this bond firmer, more practical, and more fruitful every single day,” Shalva Papuashvili concluded.