India and Georgia today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in New Delhi, for cooperation in the field of election management and administration. The MoU was signed by the Chief Election Commissioner of India, Dr. Nasim Zaidi, and Ms. Tamar Zhvania, Chairperson, Central Election Commission, Georgia. Election Commissioner of India, Shri. A. K. Joti; diplomats, and senior officials of the Election Commission of India and Government of India were present at the signing ceremony. The major aims of MoU are: promotion of exchanges of knowledge and experience in electoral processes; exchange of information, materials, expertise and training of personnel; production and distribution of materials pertaining to electoral systems, voting technology, voters’ education and awareness, and participation of women and minorities in electoral process.
Dr. Nasim Zaidi expressed his confidence that the MoU would be an important mechanism for strengthening and deepening mutual collaboration between ECI and the Central Election Commission of Georgia, in electoral management and administration. He also stated that the partnership between the two organizations augurs very well for EMBs of the Eurasian Region, and also for other EMBs. Election Commissioner, Shri. A. K. Joti, in his welcome remarks, referred to the ancient linkages between India and Georgia, and provided an overview of the Indian Electoral system, the structure, role and functioning of ECI and use of technology in the electoral process. Ms. Tamar Zhvania praised the expertise and professionalism of ECI in conducting the largest elections in the world in a peaceful, transparent and credible manner, and on a very massive scale. She expressed her interest in exploring advanced counting technologies, which would enable quick counting and declaration of election results. She identified some areas of cooperation with ECI, including Voter Education, new Technologies and capacity building of electoral stakeholders. Election Commission of India has so far signed twenty MOUs with Election Management Bodies and international organizations across the world. Some of the MoUs signed recently are with the Kyrgyz Republic, Yemen, Mauritius, Egypt, Venezuela and Republic of Korea.