Economy Minister says Gov’t looking forward to deepening green energy cooperation with Iceland
Georgian Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili said the Government was looking forward to deepening its cooperation with Iceland in green energy, innovation, tourism and other sectors. Photo: Ministry of Economy
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Georgian Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili on Wednesday said the Government was looking forward to deepening its cooperation with Iceland in green energy, innovation, tourism and other sectors.
Speaking at the Georgia-Iceland Business Roundtable session, which involved Iceland’s President Guðni Jóhannesson and representatives from public and private sectors of both countries, Davitashvili highlighted Georgia as a “leading” country in the wider region for renewable energy.
We all know Iceland’s significant experience in the rational use of various energy sources. Georgia, located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, has a unique mix of opportunities, which makes it an attractive place for both business and foreign direct investment”, Davitashvili said.
The Georgian Minister emphasised the country’s “flexible” and “healthy” investment environment that was meeting the availability of green energy and free trade in markets of 2.3 billion consumers worldwide.
Davitashvili also met with Gudlaugur Thór Thórdarson, the Minister of the Environment, Energy and Climate, where he stressed the “successful” cooperation between Georgian and Icelandic companies.
Our countries have certain similarities and experience in energy. We talked about the energy potential of Georgia, not only in hydro energy, but also in renewable sources - sun, wind, as well as the use of geothermal energy. Georgia has a certain potential in terms of using geothermal energy, in which Iceland is the leading country. Bringing these technologies to Georgia today will also be very interesting”, the Minister said.
He added Georgia's aspiration to be a “diversified and modern” economy was in line with Iceland's “vision of the future”, which he said was related to development of enterprise capabilities in green energy, innovation, tourism and other sectors.
Georgia signed a deal with the European Free Trade Association, a regional trade organisation and area consisting of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, in 2016.
Shalva Papuashvili, the Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia, and Guðni Jóhannesson, the President of Iceland who is on a visit to the country, on Wednesday discussed prospective directions of cooperation between the two states.
Guðni Jóhannesson, the President of Iceland who is on a visit to Georgia, on Tuesday said he welcomed the country’s desire to join the “Euro-Atlantic alliance” and vowed his country’s support for the process.
Georgian Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili on Friday highlighted the importance of the Black Sea submarine electricity cable project, a new transmission route to deliver green energy from the South Caucasus to Europe, at the second Green Energy Advisory Council Ministerial Meeting in Baku.
Olivér Várhelyi, the European Union Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, on Tuesday said the Black Sea Electricity and Internet Broadband Cable Project would serve as a “guide for other partners”.