2018-09-13
As Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze stated in his speech at the International Maritime Forum in Batumi, Georgia positions itself as a maritime nation, and our goal is to promote this position throughout the world.
The Head of Government underlined the special importance of the International Forum, which seeks to transform Georgia into an international maritime, logistics, and naval hub and an important discussion platform for financial institutions.
"It is common knowledge that maritime transport is the backbone of world economy, as it gets the lion's share of the world's freight turnover. As you know, for centuries, maritime transport was the most reliable and effective means for transporting goods and passengers. Today, in our 21st century era, its development poses brand new requirements, hence the growing importance and exceptionally positive role of the International Maritime Organization. The efforts of this organization have put in place an environment in which both large and small nations have an equal say. I must emphasize that we truly appreciate that. We all agree that the International Maritime Organization is making a tremendous contribution to the harmonization of the global maritime transportation system," the Prime Minister stated.
According to Mamuka Bakhtadze, Georgia's advantageous geography and unique location enables the country to become a regional hub across a variety of directions.
As the Head of Government emphasized, it is to this end that the Government of Georgia is implementing far-reaching initiatives to transform the country into an international investment, communications, transport, logistics, tourism, and financial hub.
"This path will allow for maximally tapping into the full potential of both Georgia and the wider region, qualitatively changing Georgia's economic position at that. Georgia serves as a gateway for eight landlocked countries. While being a huge responsibility, it is at the same time a great opportunity. What we mean by a logistics hub is road, air, maritime, and railroad transport in place. We have quite ambitious plans in this direction, and we are implementing such large infrastructural projects as the Anaklia Deep Sea Port, the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars project, the modernization of Georgian Railways, the East-West Highway, the development of modern logistics centers in Tbilisi and Kutaisi, and many others," the Prime Minister underlined.
Mamuka Bakhtadze singled out Georgia's immense potential and the need for every country in the region effectively to tap into it. According to the Head of Government, in order to make full use of this potential, the region's countries must act harmoniously, in concord, and their transport systems must be integrated.
"We are engaged in such globally important projects as the One Belt-One Road initiative, TRACECA, Lapis Lazuli, the Persian Gulf-Black Sea Corridor, and many others. Allow me to draw your attention to a few other topics important to us. In terms of ease of doing business, Georgia ranks 9th in the world, and so does it in terms of low taxes. In addition, we are cooperating with the Government of Adjara on an important initiative that will enable us to introduce, starting next year, considerable tax concessions for companies engaged in maritime business or in providing services to other enterprises engaged in this sector. It is truly a unique opportunity. I can announce several principles today: companies will be able to carry out operations in this sector virtually tax-free; they will have access to unique electronic services; they will be able to conduct recruiting in a very friendly environment' at the same time, our legislation will be fully aligned with international standards, and so on. In the process of increasing export, attracting more FDIs, introducing modern technology and innovation in the country, and Georgia's full integration into international economic processes, the development of national production and transport play a special, unique role," the Prime Minister said.
The Head of Government believes that transport and energy are two industries that must lead the way for the development of national economy. Otherwise, they may turn into a bottleneck, as it were, hindering further economic development.
"We are well aware of that. Therefore, we are investing heavily in this direction. We believe that, successfully developing maritime transport requires raising new leaders, which will advance this sector to a new qualitative level in Georgia. Accordingly, we opted for maritime education as one of the key directions in our maritime policy, and our efforts will surely yield positive outcomes," the Prime Minister underlined.
Mamuka Bakhtadze thanked IMO Secretary General Kitack Lim for participating in the forum and handed him certificates of Georgia's accession to various international conventions. It is Kitack Lim's second visit to Georgia.
The Head of Government is convinced that the International Maritime Forum will make a tremendous contribution to sharing different views on the development of the maritime industry, also offering Georgia a chance to take in the best international practices and experience.
Prime Minister's Press Office