Vera Kobalia
Encyclopedia
Vera Kobalia (born August 24, 1981) is a Georgian
politician who has served in the Cabinet of Georgia
as the country's Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development since July 2, 2010.
in the disputed Georgian region of Abkhazia
. In 1996, her family emigrated to Canada because of the instability brought about by the Georgian–Abkhazian conflict. She attended King George Secondary School
, and subsequently the British Columbia Institute of Technology
in Burnaby, British Columbia
, where in 2004 she graduated with a degree in business administration and informational technologies.
s within Georgia, and to increase public awareness of the problems of Georgian IDPs around the world.
In June 2010, Kobalia was appointed by President Mikheil Saakashvili
as the Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development in the Cabinet of Georgia
, and her appointment was confirmed by the Parliament of Georgia
on July 2, 2010. Kobalia said that agriculture and tourism would be the two biggest priority sectors of her tenure, and she vowed to reorganize her department under the slogan "no nepotism" to help purge institutional corruption in government.
Kobalia's appointment raised eyebrows because of Kobalia's young age (she was only 28 at the time of her appointment) and lack of political experience. She first came to President Saakashvili's attention four months before her appointment when a delegation of Vancouver's Georgian community met with the president while he was in town for the 2010 Winter Olympics
in Vancouver. Nodar Javakhishvili, the former head of the Georgian National Bank
, was quoted as saying that Kobalia had been appointed "without having either the necessary education or any experience whatsoever." Other pundits have noted that President Saakashvili, himself only 36 when he came to power, has a habit of appointing young ministers and openly claims that pulling the younger generation into positions of power is a deliberate strategy to build a new Georgia free from the legacy of Soviet domination.
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
politician who has served in the Cabinet of Georgia
Cabinet of Georgia
The Cabinet of Georgia is an executive council of government ministers in Georgia. It is headed by the Prime Minister of Georgia. In the cases of utmost importance, the meetings may be led by the President of Georgia . The first Cabinet of Georgia was formed by Noe Zhordania in the Democratic...
as the country's Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development since July 2, 2010.
Early life
Kobalia was born in 1981 in SukhumiSukhumi
Sukhumi is the capital of Abkhazia, a disputed region on the Black Sea coast. The city suffered heavily during the Georgian-Abkhaz conflict in the early 1990s.-Naming:...
in the disputed Georgian region of Abkhazia
Abkhazia
Abkhazia is a disputed political entity on the eastern coast of the Black Sea and the south-western flank of the Caucasus.Abkhazia considers itself an independent state, called the Republic of Abkhazia or Apsny...
. In 1996, her family emigrated to Canada because of the instability brought about by the Georgian–Abkhazian conflict. She attended King George Secondary School
King George Secondary School
King George Secondary School is a public secondary school located in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.The school is located in the West End, with two elementary schools feeding in...
, and subsequently the British Columbia Institute of Technology
British Columbia Institute of Technology
The British Columbia Institute of Technology , is a public, coeducational, academic institution of higher education in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada. The polytechnic has five campuses located in the Metro Vancouver region, with the main campus in Burnaby...
in Burnaby, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, where in 2004 she graduated with a degree in business administration and informational technologies.
Political career
Kobalia lived in Canada until late 2009 where she worked for European Breads Bakery, the Vancouver-based company started by her father in 2001, after which she moved back to Georgia. In February 2010, Kobalia co-founded the Coalition for Justice, an organization dedicated to the preservation of the rights internally displaced personInternally displaced person
An internally displaced person is someone who is forced to flee his or her home but who remains within his or her country's borders. They are often referred to as refugees, although they do not fall within the current legal definition of a refugee. At the end of 2006 it was estimated there were...
s within Georgia, and to increase public awareness of the problems of Georgian IDPs around the world.
In June 2010, Kobalia was appointed by President Mikheil Saakashvili
Mikheil Saakashvili
Mikheil Saakashvili is a Georgian politician, the third and current President of Georgia and leader of the United National Movement Party.Involved in the national politics since 1995, Saakashvili became president on 25 January 2004 after President Eduard Shevardnadze resigned in a November 2003...
as the Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development in the Cabinet of Georgia
Cabinet of Georgia
The Cabinet of Georgia is an executive council of government ministers in Georgia. It is headed by the Prime Minister of Georgia. In the cases of utmost importance, the meetings may be led by the President of Georgia . The first Cabinet of Georgia was formed by Noe Zhordania in the Democratic...
, and her appointment was confirmed by the Parliament of Georgia
Parliament of Georgia
Parliament of Georgia is the supreme legislature of Georgia. It is unicameral and has 150 members, known as deputies, from which 75 members are proportional representatives and 75 are elected through single-member district plurality system, representing their constituencies...
on July 2, 2010. Kobalia said that agriculture and tourism would be the two biggest priority sectors of her tenure, and she vowed to reorganize her department under the slogan "no nepotism" to help purge institutional corruption in government.
Kobalia's appointment raised eyebrows because of Kobalia's young age (she was only 28 at the time of her appointment) and lack of political experience. She first came to President Saakashvili's attention four months before her appointment when a delegation of Vancouver's Georgian community met with the president while he was in town for the 2010 Winter Olympics
2010 Winter Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
in Vancouver. Nodar Javakhishvili, the former head of the Georgian National Bank
National Bank of Georgia (country)
The National Bank of Georgia is the central bank of Georgia. Its status is defined by the Constitution of Georgia.Georgia's first central bank was established in 1919. In its current form the National Bank of Georgia has existed since 1991...
, was quoted as saying that Kobalia had been appointed "without having either the necessary education or any experience whatsoever." Other pundits have noted that President Saakashvili, himself only 36 when he came to power, has a habit of appointing young ministers and openly claims that pulling the younger generation into positions of power is a deliberate strategy to build a new Georgia free from the legacy of Soviet domination.
External links
- Vera Kobalia's official biography. The government of Georgia website.
- Vera Kobalia's Twitter