Parliamentary delegation discusses Georgia’s investment potential, situation in region with British officials, experts

A Georgian parliamentary delegation has discussed investment potential in Georgia for British businesses, as well as security situation in the Black Sea region, with officials and experts in London during an official visit to the United Kingdom.

Ruling Georgian Dream party MP Nikoloz Samkharadze said the group had met Richard Burge, the Head of the London Chamber of Commerce, to present the tax benefits operated for foreign investment in Georgia.

We agreed that after the situation related to the pandemic improves, we will receive a delegation from the London Chamber of Commerce consisting of various businesses, with members introduced to Georgia's investment potential,” Samkharadze noted while stressing the importance of London as one of the most important financial centres in the world with more than 400,000 businesses registered. 

The delegation from the Parliament of Georgia also took part in a Council on Geostrategy roundtable in London, where the current tensions in the Black Sea region and the deepening of cooperation between Georgia and the UK were on the agenda. Photo: Parliament of Georgia.

The First Deputy Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee, Giorgi Khelashvili, said the roundtable had concerned Ukraine and the risks and prospects in the region. Prospects for British-Georgian cooperation in strengthening Georgia's defence and security, as well as deepening of regional cooperation, were also reviewed. 

• Parliament Speaker Papuashvili pays official visit to UK, discusses Georgia's foreign policy

At the meeting, we spoke with British experts on defence and security issues, both from academic fields and analytical organisations […] We will introduce their recommendations to the Government of Georgia and take them into account when planning future activities,” Khelashvili said. 

The parliamentary delegation comprises MPs from the ruling party - including Nikoloz Samkharadze, Nino Tsilosani, Giorgi Khelashvili and Teona Akubardia from the opposition - as well as the Head of the Cabinet of the Speaker of the Parliament Levan Makhashvili. 

• Parliament Speaker Papuashvili meets NATO Deputy Sec-Gen: we remain determined to achieve security

Georgian parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili also held several meetings this week, including with representatives of the UK parliament, speakers of the House of Commons and House of Lords, as well as representatives of the Foreign Relations and the Defence Committees of the House of Commons. 

Papuashvili completed his visit to the UK on February 10, while the parliamentary delegation remains in the country for further meetings.