Georgian-Slovak Business Forum:
PM promotes Georgia’s business-friendly environment

Georgia and Slovakia are investigating ways to deepen economic relations at today’s joint business forum in Georgia’s capital Tbilisi.

Experts from the two nations discussed ways to enhance bilateral trade and economic relations, the partnership in the energy sector, information technologies, logistics, transportation, infrastructure and commerce.

We have very dynamic trade relations with Slovakia, which have steadily increased in the past few years but we believe there is still an untapped potential and ample opportunities for investment and trade between our countries,” said Georgia’s Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili while speaking at the Forum.

After introducing Georgia’s trade and investment opportunities Kvirikashvili said the Government was following the bold reform agenda that aimed to reinforce Georgia’s democratic institutions, support economic development and European integration.

Opened the Georgian-Slovak #BusinessForum. #Georgia has one of the most liberal foreign #trade policies in the world pic.twitter.com/pP5w02LKaV

— Giorgi Kvirikashvili (@KvirikashviliGi) May 30, 2016

Georgia has always been part of the European civilisation and I want to emphasise that our path to European integration is irreversible,” Kvirikashvili said.

By signing an Association Agreement with the European Union (including the DCFTA) in 2014, we took a major step towards our European goal. We have made steady progress in establishing European regulations and standards in Georgia. We are also pleased to have the steadfast support of Slovakia in pursuing our Euro-Atlantic ambitions,” he added.

Georgia’s PM said the country’s economic policy was oriented on free, fair, inclusive and sustainable development. In his speech Kvirikashvili also outlined the country’s foreign trade policy priorities.

Georgia has one of the most liberal foreign trade policies in the world that implies facilitated foreign trade regime and customs procedures, low import tariffs and minimal non-tariff regulations. One of our top priorities is diversification of our exports through integration into the world's leading markets,” Kvirikashvili clarified.

He spoke in detail about the Government’s four-point reform agenda, and about the ongoing reforms in Georgia:

• Refinement of the tax legislation and administration;
• Open governance and increased citizen participation in decision-making;
• Acceleration of construction of basic infrastructure;
• Reform of tertiary and professional education systems.

At today's Forum experts from the two nations discussed ways to enhance bilateral trade and economic relations. Photo by the PM's press office. 

Georgia continues its broad and comprehensive reforms designed to further improve the business environment, create new jobs, enhance export possibilities and increase the welfare of citizens,” Kvirikashvili declared.

Meanwhile the president of Slovakia Andrej Kiska elaborated on the need for deepening Georgian-Slovak relations. In his words, utilisation of the existing potential will be truly beneficial for the both countries.

At the Georgian-Slovak Business Forum, the Georgian National Investment Agency and Slovak Agency for International Development adopted Memorandum of Understanding that supports and encourages closer ties.