US Ambassador highlights importance of Tbilisi Silk Road Forum
Dunnigan pointed out Georgia’s achievement in developing the Corridor - a transportation route network connecting China with Europe via the South Caucasus region - as well as related road, railway and port infrastructure. Photo: Ministry of Economy
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Robin Dunnigan, the newly appointed United States Ambassador to Georgia, on Thursday highlighted the importance of the fourth edition of the Tbilisi Silk Road Forum, an event hosting more than 2,000 delegates and guests from up to 60 foreign states in the Georgian capital.
Georgia’s Ministry of Economy cited Dunnigan as saying she appreciated the event, an initiative of Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and his Government, and called it “extremely important” for private and public sector representatives as well as leaders of the Middle Corridor logistics route countries to gather to support the development of the “important transit road”.
Dunnigan pointed out Georgia’s achievement in developing the Corridor - a transportation route network connecting China with Europe via the South Caucasus region - as well as related road, railway and port infrastructure.
That is why we are here today, the United States and our companies, to continue to support and participate in this development, because we know the true value of the Middle Corridor and the role of Georgia in this Middle Corridor. So, as an ambassador here, I am absolutely ready to support this issue”, she said.
The Ministry said Dunnigan, representatives from the United States Agency for International Development and the US business community were among participants set to attend panel discussions and other events within the Forum.
Opened earlier today, the event will host 10 thematic sessions on topics including the Middle Corridor, investments, trade relations, tourism and energy.
The Tbilisi Silk Road Forum is an “important” and “timely” event in light of the challenges in the Black Sea Region, Zurab Pololikashvili, the Secretary General of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, said at the opening event of the fourth edition of the event on Thursday.
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.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Wednesday said he had a “very positive” first impression about Robin Dunnigan, the newly appointed United States Ambassador to Georgia, after having “a very good” meeting with her last week.
Georgian Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili on Wednesday said the country’s capital Tbilisi was “ready” to host the fourth edition of Tbilisi Silk Forum “with honour”.
The strategic cooperation between Georgia and the United States and prospects for its strengthening and expansion were discussed on Monday in a meeting between the Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and Robin Dunnigan, the newly appointed Ambassador of the US to the country.
Georgian Deputy Economy Minister Genadi Arveladze on Friday opened an organisational centre to help organise the Tbilisi Silk Road Forum, an event set to host thousands of representatives from 60 countries later this month, “at a high level”.
Prospects of future cooperation between Georgia and Armenia were discussed in a meeting between the Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and his Armenian counterpart Nikol Pashinyan on the sidelines of the Tbilisi Silk Road Forum.
The Tbilisi Silk Road Forum is a “great platform where ideas meet action”, Ilia Darchiashvili, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, said about the event that opened on Thursday in Georgia’s capital city.
Charles J. Cormier, the Regional Director for Infrastructure for Europe and Central Asia at the World Bank, on Tuesday said Georgia had the potential to become a centre not only for trade but also for production of goods.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Thursday told Tbilisi Silk Road Forum that the international event that has brought together more than 2,000 delegates from 63 foreign states to discuss trade and connectivity in the Georgian capital was an “important opportunity” to promote the country’s progress in recent years.
The American Chamber of Commerce in Georgia, the largest international business chamber in the country, celebrated its 25th anniversary on Saturday.