Interest in Tbilisi Silk Road Forum shows Georgia’s growing role in Black Sea region - Economy Minister

Georgian Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili on Thursday said the interest shown for this year’s Tbilisi Silk Road Forum, an event hosting more than 2,000 delegates and guests from up to 60 foreign states, was “extremely high” and added the event’s attraction indicated Georgia’s growing role in the Black Sea region.

In his comments Davitashvili noted the first edition of the Forum, initiated by the Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, had been hosted in 2015, and noted interest towards the event was “extremely high” since the end of Covid-19 pandemic-related restrictions that prevented its editions over the recent years.

Davitashvili said the Forum featured delegations from the United States, Middle East, China, Europe and other countries of the Black Sea region, adding a “very high level” of business activity could be seen at the event apart from the participation of “high-ranking” political officials.

Georgia - as a stable, interesting, dynamically developing economy - is attractive for investors. This is a favourable environment for investors. I am sure that there will be many successful deals between businesses within the framework of the Forum. There will also be very interesting discussions between politicians on various topics”, he noted.

The Economy Minister said the Forum would cover issues including transport, perspectives of the Middle Corridor - a transportation route network connecting China with Europe via the South Caucasus region - as well as investment, trade, finance and other topics.

Forum participants will discuss global economic challenges, ways to solve them, and aspects and perspectives of cooperation for connectivity. The first day of the biannual event will host 10 sessions, with day two used for discussion of Georgia's investment opportunities and B2B meetings.