Chair of the Healthcare and Social Issues Committee, Zaza Lominadze, together with the IDPs, Labour, Health and Social Affairs Minister, Mikheil Sarjveladze, participated in an international ministerial meeting on demographic sustainability held in North Macedonia.

The main topic of the ministerial meeting was strengthening sustainable, people-centered policies in the context of demographic change.

Within the framework of the ministerial, participants discussed issues such as low birth rates, population aging, migration, labor market changes, the sustainability of social protection systems, and the promotion of youth development. Particular attention was paid to strengthening human capital and family-oriented policies.

The international event was opened with a welcome address by the Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Hristijan Mickoski.

Participants were also addressed by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset.

The ministerial was attended by ministers from various countries and representatives of international organizations.

Within the framework of the ministerial, Zaza Lominadze and Mikheil Sarjveladze held bilateral meetings.

They met with the Minister of Social Policy, Demography and Youth of North Macedonia, Fatmir Limani.

During the meeting, the parties discussed the challenges facing their countries in light of demographic changes and the policy approaches aimed at strengthening social systems and improving public welfare. Particular attention was given to family-oriented policies, youth support programs, and modern labor market trends.

Together with Mikheil Sarjveladze, Zaza Lominadze also met with the Deputy Executive Director of the UNFPA, Pio Smith. The discussion focused on demographic changes, strengthening healthcare and social protection systems, and prospects for future cooperation.

As part of the ministerial, a meeting was also held with Mark Pearson, Director for Employment, Labour and Social Affairs at the OECD, where mechanisms for responding to labor market challenges and demographic changes were discussed.

The meetings held in North Macedonia were also attended by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Georgia to the Republic of Bulgaria and North Macedonia, H.E. Zurab Khamashuridze.