At the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting in Davos, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili joined a panel with global partners, including United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Samantha Power, to highlight Georgia’s leadership in detecting and eliminating deadly sources of lead-based poisoning around the world.
In the panel titled “Towards a Lead-Free Future,” the Head of Government highlighted Georgia’s status as a world-leader in eliminating lead poisoning, pointing to Georgia’s “active involvement” in the European Environment and Health Process, its 24/7 monitoring of airborne pollutants, and its successful implementation of stricter technical regulations controlling the manufacture, sale, and import of construction paints – a common source of lead poisoning.
Looking to the future, Prime Minister Garibashvili noted Georgia’s “steadfast commitment” to strengthening both human and technical capacities in the fight against lead and pledged to “further develop” lead surveillance programs, conduct research, and implement “effective mitigation” strategies to reduce lead exposure. He also noted that international organizations like USAID play a “pivotal role” in protecting people from lead exposure and urged greater international cooperation.
The Government of Georgia is grateful for the support and friendship of its international partners in the fight against lead poisoning, and remains committed to building a safer, lead-free world.