Economy Minister talks “beginning of new opportunities” in cooperation between Georgia, US
The ongoing hostilities in Ukraine were also in the spotlight of the official’s speech, with the importance of defending the “principles and values shared by the democratic world” in the face of Russia's unjustified war against Ukraine. Photo: Georgian Economy Ministry
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A “beginning of new opportunities” in cooperation between Georgia and the United States was the focus of an address by Georgian Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili, delivered at an event marking the US Independence Day on Thursday.
The Minister reviewed trade and economic cooperation and noted the US was among the top 10 partner countries of Georgia in terms of trade turnover, export and import.
He also talked about direct foreign investments that covered various economic sectors, and said capital inflow from the US since 1997 had exceeded $1.8 billion.
The ongoing hostilities in Ukraine were also in the spotlight of the official’s speech, with the importance of defending the “principles and values shared by the democratic world” in the face of Russia's unjustified war against Ukraine.
Davitashvili noted Georgia stood in solidarity with Ukraine, its international friends and partners, and noted the “aggression against freedom”, territorial integrity and independence carried out by Russia against Georgia in 2008.
The Minister thanked the US for its “unwavering support” of Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders.
Kelly Degnan, the United States Ambassador to Georgia, on Thursday said Georgia was a “very strong partner” of NATO, as demonstrated by the participation of the Georgian Government’s high-level delegation in the ongoing Madrid Summit of the alliance.
As part of his official visit to the United States, Georgian Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili met with members of the America-Georgia Business Council on Wednesday to discuss “priority areas” of bilateral economic relations, the Georgian Ministry of Economy said.
Prospective investments in Georgian logistics, renewable energy development, business process outsourcing and information technology were discussed by Levan Davitashvili, the Georgian Economy minister, and Judith Pryor, the Vice-Chair of the Export-Import Bank of the United States, the Economy Ministry announced on Tuesday.
Establishing a free trade agreement between Georgia and the United States would be a “clear signal” of increased US economic interests in Georgia and contribute to the country’s Euro-Atlantic integration aspirations and economic development, Georgia's Ambassador to the US David Zalkaliani said on Tuesday.
Kelly Degnan, the United States Ambassador to Georgia, on Thursday said Georgia had made “great progress” building its democracy over the past 30 years and pointed out that there was “no limit” to what the country could achieve with unity over its Euro-Atlantic future.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Monday congratulated the United States on its Independence Day by saying the date was a “symbol of freedom, democracy and commitment to common values” not only for US citizens but “for the entire democratic world”.