The Wardrop Dialogue: Enhancing Georgia-UK relations
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Georgia and Great Britain are stepping up cooperation to develop and improve the existing trade and economic relations both countries currently enjoy.
Yesterday Georgia’s Vice Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili met representatives from the UK’s business society at The Wardrop Dialogue.
The United Kingdom-Georgia dialogue was renamed The Wardrop Dialogue in November last year in honour of Sir Oliver Wardrop - Britain’s first Chief Commissioner to Georgia in 1919-1921 who believed in deepening cooperation between the two countries.
I assured FM Kvirikashvili that UK remains committed to right of #Georgia to decide its own future #WardropDialoguepic.twitter.com/ViBGZZ3EdF
— David Lidington (@DLidington) November 30, 2015
Member of Parliament for Aylesbury and Minister for Europe David Lidington posted on his official Twitter about the meting with Georgia's Minister of Foreign Affairs Giorgi Kvirikashvili.
During the meeting Kvirikashvili talked about the reforms Georgia had implemented in the economic sector and other areas that would develop and support Georgia’s investment, business and fiscal environment.
Georgia’s importance as a regional transit and logistics hub was also highlighted, as was the country’s leading positions in international ratings.
Kvirikashvili told the UK participants Georgia’s main purpose was to attract more European investments and offer the European business society an environment that met modern and European regulations. He also spoke about the Georgia-EU Association Agreement (AA) and its inclusive Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA).
The Wardrop Dialogue was attended by representatives from more than 20 leading British companies. The group expressed interest in learning more about Georgia and possibly implementing business projects in the country.
Meanwhile, while abroad Kvirikashvili also met the UK’s Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth AffairsPhilip Hammond.
Kvirikashvili thanked Hammond for supporting Georgia and deepening the already strong friendship between Georgia and the UK, to which Hammond again confirmed the UK supported Georgia’s EU-NATO integration.
Regional security issues were at the top of their bilateral talks. Hammond told Kvirikashvili that the UK supported Georgia’s sovereignty and threats against the country’s territorial integrity remained among the priority issues in the UK’s agenda.
Georgia reaffirmed its readiness to contribute to a strengthened global anti-terrorist campaign.
Georgia and Britain are searching for ways to develop and improve the existing trade and economic relations both countries currently enjoy.
Cooperation between Georgia and the United Kingdom (UK) is being closely examined this week at the latest Wardrop Dialogue gathering, where officials from both countries are meeting and exploring ways to deepen the current relationship.
From now on the United Kingdom-Georgia dialogue will be known as ‘The Wardrop Dialogue’ in honour of Sir Oliver Wardrop - Britain’s first Chief Commissioner to Georgia in 1919-1921 who believed in deepening cooperation between the two countries.
A world leading investment management firm is planning to increase its investment portfolio in Georgia by funding projects in Georgia’s health and financial sectors.
Georgian top officials have arrived in the UK to attend the Georgia-UK fourth session of dialogue, known as the Wardrop Dialogue, created to enhance ties between the two nations.
The Dialogue was opened today in London by Sir Alan Duncan, Minister of State for Europe and the Americas.
The Georgian Foreign Ministry and a UK executive agency, Wilton Park, have signed a memorandum envisaging the joint organization of global and regional discussions and events on issues in focus of the international community.
The United Kingdom’s Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Boris Johnson said defense and security of Georgia as well as trade cooperation are of huge importance "for us and our continent”.
Trade-economic cooperation with Georgia was the main focus of the UK Minister of State for Europe and the Americas Sir Alan Duncan when he spoke at the opening of the Wardrop Strategic Dialogue yesterday.
The Lord Mayor of London, Andrew Parmley, says Georgia has the best business environment in the region and the UK is ready to enhance trade-economic ties with the country. The mayor stated this in front of representatives of the British business community today.
Sir Gary Johnson, UK Government Adviser on Foreign Security and Crisis Management has come to Georgia today and held his first meeting with Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze.
UK Minister for Europe Sir Alan Duncan told Georgian PM Mamuka Bakhtadze in Tbilisi today that Georgia is a role model for democracy and human rights protection in the region.