German Chancellor pledges to promote Georgia as a “good place” to invest

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is promising Germany will do its best to promote Georgia as a good place to invest.

Merkel made the pledge to the Georgian Prime Minister in Berlin today. She believed Georgia had successfully completed the necessary steps towards integrating with the European Union (EU) and the environment was stable and a viable investment market.

"Georgia’s EU integration has been confirmed by signing the Association Agreement with the EU on June 27,” Merkel said at a joint press conference after hosting an official meeting with Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili.

"Georgia has also spent much time and effort settling communication with Russia. [We] have agreed to strengthen economic cooperation [with Georgia] and to encourage German businessmen to increase their investments in Georgia.”

At the press conference, Garibashvili confirmed Georgia’s relationship with Russia was one of the main topics discussed during his private talks with Chancellor Merkel.

Garibashvili, who is on an official visit to Germany, said he told the German leader about Georgia’s recently improved relationship with Russia.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel walks with Irakli Garibashvili in the Federal Chancellery in Berlin in the framework of the official visit on June 2, 2014. Photo by Georgian PM’s press office.

"Since winning the election two years ago, we, as a Government, have taken numerous constructive steps that have yielded results. These concrete results show that Georgia has a constructive, predictable and stable Government that wants to be at peace with its neighbouring countries, especially Russia,” Garbibashvili said.

Merkel responded and said in recent years there had been an impression of instability in Georgia regarding Georgia’s two breakaway regions, Abkhazia and South Ossetia – both of which were currently backed by Russia.

Despite this, she said: "Georgia creates a good environment for attracting investors to the country.”

On his side, Garibashvili thanked Merkel for Germany’s support to further deepen bilateral economic relations between the countries. He also expressed his gratitude towards Germany’s backing of Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders.

"[We] highly appreciate the solidarity and support we received from the German Chancellor regarding the implementation of Georgia’s Association Agreement with the EU,” Garibashvili stressed.

The PM stressed he informed the German leader about the reforms recently implemented by his Government, as well as numerous other reforms expected to be implemented soon.

He said the upcoming reforms were an important part of the context of European integration and served the purpose of strengthening democracy, the rule of law and judicial independence, protecting human rights and freedoms and ensuring economic development and social prosperity.

Merkel: Granting MAP to Georgia would not be discussed at NATO summit

German Chancellor Angela Merkel believed granting Georgia with a NATO Membership Action Plan (MAP) would not be on the agenda at the upcoming NATO Summit in Wales in September.

However Merkel said the achieved progress of Georgia as a NATO aspirant country should be praised at the international event.

"There are some other means apart from [granting Georgia with a] MAP to express that Georgia is a good partner and NATO observes Georgia’s progress. We also see Georgia’s efforts towards Afghanistan,” Merkel said.

When asked if Georgia would be granted a MAP if Russia continued its aggression towards Georgia, Merkel said: "I do not believe Russia will make a decision for further aggression.”

"I believe Georgia deserves more support for intensive and normalized relations with Russia,” Merkel said.

The issue of Ukraine was raised during a question and answer session of the press conference, where Georgia’s PM said the newly elected President of Ukraine would "restore peace and stability in the country”.

Before today’s official meeting, Garibashvili was met by the German leader in the yard of the Chancellery. The ceremony was solemn, anthems of Georgia and Germany were played and representatives from both countries’ Governments were welcomed, reported the press office of the Georgian Prime Minister.

Merkel also received the Georgian PM’s invitation to visit Georgia in 2015.