Honorary Georgian Consul Thelmo Cunanan Jr paid an official visit to Kvemo Kartli Governor Paata Khizanashvili on the occasion of the signing of the Sister-Province Agreement between Kvemo Kartli and Isabela in the Philippines, the FIRST province-level agreement between Georgia and the Philippines and Georgia and the entire Asia. This was another landmark initiative of Consul Cunanan, who witnessed the signing at the Governor’s office in Rustavi City.
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 Isabela. Governor Khizanashvili expressed keen interest to develop ties with the Philippines and thanked Consul Cunanan for the historic initiative. “This is a special friendship with Isabela as our component cities are already in a historic friendship and cooperation relationship. These ties are now made even stronger with our official ties on the province level. I look forward to visiting Governor Faustino Dy,” said Governor Khizanashvili. “I wish to thank Consul Cunanan who is a true friend of Kvemo Kartli and of Georgia.”
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 275th 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.
