Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili, following a nomination by the Prime Minister of Georgia, awarded the Medal of Honor to five employees of the National Statistics Office of Georgia for their outstanding contribution to state-building in Georgia and their distinguished service. The Presidential Administration reported the news.

According to the administration, the state awards were presented to Paata Shavishvili, Deputy Executive Director of the National Statistics Office of Georgia; Irakli Apkhaidze, Deputy Executive Director of the National Statistics Office of Georgia; Aleksandre Arabuli, Head of the Population Census and Demographic Statistics Department; Aleksandre Ambokadze, Head of the Information Technology Department; and Mariam Kavelashvili, Head of the International Relations and Public Relations Department.

At the award ceremony, the President of Georgia addressed those in attendance and spoke about the importance of the National Statistics Office for the country's development and the state decision-making process.

“The strength of a state begins where it has an accurate, objective, and in-depth understanding of its own reality. In today's information age, the right course for a country's development is based first and foremost on impartial, processed, and accurate data,” Mikheil Kavelashvili said.

The President highlighted the historical development of Georgia's state statistical institution, noting that its establishment dates back to 1919, during the period of the First Democratic Republic of Georgia.

According to Mikheil Kavelashvili, methods of data collection and processing have changed significantly over more than a century, but the professional responsibility of statistics service employees and their dedication to the country have remained unchanged.

In his address, the President also spoke about the importance of reliable and accessible statistical information for society.

In his assessment, objective data help keep citizens informed and reduce the opportunities for information manipulation.

“Today, the National Statistics Office of Georgia operates in accordance with international standards, and its data are trusted both in Georgia and abroad. Such trust is earned through extensive experience, while maintaining it requires daily effort and dedication,” the President of Georgia noted.

Mikheil Kavelashvili thanked the award recipients for their high professionalism and distinguished service, stating that the Medal of Honor represents state recognition of their many years of experience and dedication to the country.