On January 25, 2012, the Prime Minister of Georgia, Nika Gilauri, paid a working visit to Davos, Switzerland, where the World Economic Forum was held on January 25-29.
At a presentation of Georgia held on January 25, the Prime Minister of Georgia, Nika Gilauri delivered a speech. The Prime Minister talked about how Georgia turned from a corrupted country into a country having one of the best business-climates.
Nika Gilauri pointed out: "political and business elite all over the world has gathered in Davos. Up to 50 thousand people have come. There is the greatest interest to several directions. One of these directions is Georgia. The interest is mainly from private sector towards investments; where and how many investments can Georgia attract today, in this condition. This is to be proved very simply, why investments may be made in Georgia."
The year 2012 is a very hard period to everyone. Economic growth rates of the US and China are lower than they have been expected. No one knows, how the next 12 month will be developed, but at the same time, this is the best period to make investments in Georgia. We had 6.8% growth last year. According to our data, we will have 5% to 6% growth in the future. This year, we put 5.5% growth in the budget. We hope that the figure will be much greater. Last year, when the whole world suffered from dropping Gross Domestic Product indexes, we were the only country, where the growth of Gross Domestic Product amounted to 5% to 6.5%. The last and this year, when Standard&Poor's together with Fitch reduced credit rating of leading countries of the world, we were the only country showing the opposite indexes. We are the most distinguished country of the world with our macroeconomic parameters, in which I mean growth of Gross Domestic Product and reduction of inflation level and budget deficit.
According to the last data of international transparence, we hold the 16th place in the list. Our aim is to become one of the top ten countries. We are the only developing country in the top twenty, with a view to defeating corruption, simplicity of making business, easiness of crossing borders, customs procedures and a good Labor Code. This has happened for the first time in the history of existence of this research. Singapore comes first, the next is Hong Kong, then the Great Britain, the USA, etc.," pointed out the Prime Minister of Georgia during the presentation.
The Prime Minister of Georgia met with the European Commissar on Energy, Gunter Ottinger, and the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev.
"Today a great attention is felt towards Georgia in Davos. There are several reasons for this. One of the reasons is that Georgia has not been represented in Davos for 4-5 years. This is the first year after the year 2005, when Georgia is represented in Davos; and the second reason is reforms carried out in Georgia during the last years - reforms of fighting against corruption, reforms in different directions, reforms in energy as well as in law enforcement agencies. These reforms are very important for developing, as well as for developed countries. Any of such forums are very important for Georgia, in order to attract additional investors, additional investments, and create additional jobs in the country.
I have met with the President of Azerbaijan and the European Commissar on Energy, Mr. Ottinger. We have discussed a very good and important project once again - the AGRI Project, i.e. Azerbaijan-Georgia-Romania gas transit project, which implies gas transit on the Black Sea. I would like to say that the European Union expresses great interest towards this project and the additional meeting, additional conference will be held in Georgia in the nearest months, to which absolutely all participants will be invited - Azerbaijan, Romania, Hungary, may be Ukraine, the European Union, and may be, the countries of Middle Asia," declared Nika Gilauri after the meeting.
Apart from this, the Prime Minister of Georgia met with members of US Congress Delegation and participated in interactive session Corruption and Transparence held in Congress Center, discussion on the issue of the Role of GAC in Taking Global Decisions held around a round table and a working dinner, Moving into 2012.
According to the Prime Minister, "one of the main issues in Davos was unemployment, which was declared 2012 main problem of the world. The second issue was fighting against corruption."
"With respect to this, a meeting was held behind closed doors, where we discussed how we can fight against corruption, what methods exist and what successes can be achieved.
Example of Georgia is considered one of the most successful examples not only in the Post Soviet countries.
There is a great interest towards Georgian reforms carried out during the last years; how these reforms can be adapted and repeated in other countries. Georgia was the main issue because of these reforms," pointed out Nika Gilauri.
Prime Minister's Press Service