Georgia presents its business-friendly market in Berlin

"Georgia is a small country but it is attractive for international investments – its market is open and its economy is liberal”.

Using these words Georgia’s Economy Minister Dimitry Kumsishvili spoke about the country’s potential and opportunities for investors at a high level business conference in Berlin, Germany.

The business conference, organised by the German branch of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), provided a platform for private sector and policymakers from OSCE participating states, including Georgia, to work together.

Top officials from companies and public institutions of the organisation’s 57 participating nations and the OSCE’s 11 partner countries attended the May 18-19 business conference.

Georgia’s Economy Minister and other participants had the opportunity to discuss ways of facilitating trade and investment, cross-border networks and synergies in the interest of the entire OSCE region. This also included discussing barriers and different economic regions in order to foster mutual understanding.

Top officials from companies and public institutions of the organisation’s 57 participating nations and the OSCE’s 11 partner countries attended the business conference. Photo by Georgia's Ministry of Economy.

New regional initiatives with respect to Central Asia, the Caucasus and the historic Silk Road were also major topics of discussions.

Georgia’s Economy Minister delivered a speech at the session Economic Hubs and Transport Corridors – Future Strategies, Political and Business Models. Georgia’s transit and investments opportunities were heavily accented in his speech.

Kumsishvili said developing of Georgia’s transit function and establishing the country as a logistics hub was one of challenging tasks facing the Government. Kumsishvili said Georgia had all conditions to achieve this – good strategic location at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and the Middle East; a business-friendly environment; and strong regional and international relations.

Among the projects being implemented in Georgia to enhance its transit potential, Kumsishvili specifically mentioned the New Silk Road project. Georgia played a vital role in the revival of his historic trade rout, he stressed. Now Georgia can transit goods from China to Europe in nine days via railway.

Kumsishvili also accented the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars project, the East-West Highway project and other plans that outlined developing modern logistics centres in Georgia, as examples of what the Government was doing to increase Georgia’s logistics potential.