On March 14, 2004 the Prime Minister of Georgia Zurab Noghaideli left for the Federal Republic of Germany for a working visit.
On the first day of his visit the Prime Minister met the Federal Minister of Defence Franz-Josef Jung. Zurab Noghaideli confirmed once more that the Government of Georgia is ready to send the Georgian military contingent to Afghanistan.
"We undertake the liability to be alongside our partners where is necessary and we are sending the military contingent to Afghanistan and now are in process of concrete talks with Germany in connection with the place of dislocation of this contingent", - stated Zurab Noghaideli after the meeting with the Federal Minister of Defence. According to the preliminary information the Georgian squad will be dislocated at Afghan town Mazari Sharif.
The Prime Minister noted that in the course of the meeting with the Germany minister of defence was considered the issues of integration of Georgia into NATO, the support of Germany in this direction, mutual cooperation in the military sphere and settlement of conflicts on the territory of Georgia.
The Federal Minister of Defence Franz-Josef Jung on behalf of the Government of Germany backed the integration of Georgia in NATO and peaceful settlement of conflicts.
Zurab Noghaideli together with the German experts took part in the discussion on the economical issues held in Berlin - "Ost-Ausschuss der Deutschen Wirtschaft".
In the evening the Prime Minister attended the Georgian wines testing held in Berlin, viewed the exposition of the Georgian National Museum "Medea's Gold - New Revelation of Georgia" arranged in the antique collection of the Berlin National Museum - Alte Museum.
In the end of the visit in Germany in Frankfurt was held the Germany-Georgia business forum "Investing Georgia".
The Prime Minister presented to the forum the report about the current processes in the national economy. The German party is interested in the investments in the bank and energy sectors in Georgia. After the reports made by the Prime Minister, minister for economic development and representatives of the banking sphere of Georgia the managers of the largest entities of Germany expressed their will to increase the amount of investments in Georgia.
Upon the closing of forum Zurab Noghaideli stated that "Germany expresses a rather great interest in the Georgian banking and energy sectors. In the end of February was completed one of the major transaction with participation of the German company, which will provide its information here and now. The German company "Heidelberg Cement" has purchased cement works in Georgia, therefore, the amount of German investments in Georgia is sufficiently large."
Prime Minister's Press Service