Honorary Georgian Consul Thelmo Cunanan has finalized the first “sister-province” relationship of Georgia and Asia and Georgia and the Philippines. The participating provinces are Kvemo Kartli of Georgia and Isabela of the Philippines.The two provinces already have a close relationship. In 2014, Rustavi, the capital of Kvemo Kartli, entered into a tripartite “sister-city” relationship with Cauayan and Santiago Cities, which are located in Isabela province. This “sister-city” alliance between the Philippines and Georgia was an initiative of Consul Cunanan who worked closely with the mayors of Rustavi, Cauayan, and Santiago. The relationship was made even stronger with the official visit last October 2015 of a delegation from Rustavi City to the 275^th founding anniversary of Cauayan. This was the first official Georgian local government delegation to visit the Philippines and Asia. Consul Cunanan accompanied the delegates during their 8-day stay in Isabela.

During his official visit to Georgia from May 23 – June 2, 2016, Consul Cunanan will witness the signing of the historic Sister-Province relationship at the office of the governor of Kvemo Kartli. Both provinces commit to cooperation in the fields of eco-tourism, agro-industrial development, public policy and good governance, and environment protection, among others. Consul Cunanan is also preparing the first exchange of official provincial delegations between Kvemo Kartli and Isabel.