A memorandum of cooperation has recently been signed between ISET Policy Institute, the Georgian National Energy and Water Supply Regulatory Commission (GNERC), and the Elizbar Eristavi Energy Training Center.

The agreement was signed by the director of the ISET Policy institute, Tamar Sulukhia, the Chairman of GNERC, Davit Narmania, and the Director of the ENTC, Nugzar Beridze.

The goal of such cooperation is to implement joint educational research and other projects in the electricity, natural gas, and water supply sectors - those which raise public awareness of relevant issues, and plan and implement other joint activities.

GNERC's chairman, Davit Narmania, kindly gave a public lecture to ISET students on issues of energy and water supply regulation.

Mr. Narmania introduced the students to various results and perspectives of ongoing activities, discussed current processes in regulated sectors, and then focused on the current reforms in the field of electric energy, tariff regulation, and the protection of consumer rights.

On 12 September, ISET hosted Mr. Albert Park, Chief Economist at the Asian Development Bank (ADB). In his address, he spoke to the ISET community of students and researchers about “Technology, Globalization, and the Changing Nature of work in Emerging Markets”. Within the talk, he reviewed quite how globalization and technological progress affect skills and employment in emerging markets, as well as Georgia’s position on the global map.

It is particularly noteworthy that this was Mr. Park’s first visit to Georgia in the capacity of an ADB economic spokesperson. Beyond this role, he also leads the Economic Research and Regional Cooperation Department (ERCD), which publishes pivotal knowledge products, such as the Asian Development Outlook, Asian Economic Integration Report, Asia Bond Monitor, and the Key Indicators for Asia and the Pacific.