Former ruling party MP Karumidze appointed head of Georgia's National Gastronomy Agency

Former MP of the ruling Georgian Dream party Levan Karumidze has been appointed chairman of Georgia's National Gastronomy Agency, a newly established legal entity under the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture.

The ministry said Karumidze brings many years of experience in public administration and international relations.

Between 2020 and 2024, he served as an MP and later first deputy chair of the Georgian Parliament's Committee on European Integration. He was also a member of the parliamentary Committee on Foreign Relations.

According to the ministry, Karumidze has held a number of senior positions in the public sector, including deputy head of the National Security Council Office. He also worked on international media relations at the Government Administration and held senior management roles within agencies under the Ministry of Education and Science.

The ministry said his professional experience would support the agency's work in promoting Georgian gastronomy internationally, preserving and developing the country's culinary heritage, and strengthening cooperation with international partners.

The National Gastronomy Agency was established under a government decree issued on 20 July 2026. Its mandate includes protecting, developing and promoting Georgia's gastronomic heritage, increasing its international profile, and formulating and implementing a unified national policy for the gastronomy sector.