On 21-25 May, Prime Minister of Georgia Mr. Zurab Noghaideli was on a visit to Great Britain. The Prime Minister met the representatives of the Government and opposition - Deputy Prime Minister Rt. Hon John Prescott, Secretary for European Issues Geoffrey Hoon, Chairman of the Committee for Foreign Affairs of the Parliament Mike Gapes, Chairman of the Defence Committee James Arburthnot, Deputy Secretary of Defence Tom Watson, Foreign Secretaries of the Shadow Cabinet - Rt. Hon William Hague of the Conservative Party and Michael Moore of the Liberal-Democratic Party.
The main topic of the meetings was Georgia's north Atlantic integration. From the representatives of both the opposition and the Government, the Prime Minister of Georgia received support in Georgia's rapprochement with NATO. It was noted that Great Britain stands for a fast shift to Intensified Dialogue, the new stage of Georgia's integration into NATO.
The parties discussed in detail the issues of the Georgia Action Plan of the European Neighbourhood Policy and the status of the agreement. The Prime Minister voiced his satisfaction with the progress achieved in the last round of talks and expressed hope that the plan implementation phase would follow pretty soon. Besides, Zurab Noghaideli underscored that the Government of Georgia is keenly interested in signing a free trade agreement with the European Union, on the first stage with Turkey as the latter is a member of the European Customs Union and that needs the consent from the European Union to sign a free trade agreement with Georgia. The British party expressed full support to Georgia's integration into north Atlantic and European structures and promised to make specific steps.
The parties also discussed the conflicts within the territory of Georgia and the progress of the peace process. Zurab Noghaideli stressed the fact that the Government of Georgia is considering only a peaceful resolution of the conflicts. The British party expressed support to the peace initiatives of the Government of Georgia. Special importance was attached to the donors' conference that is dedicated to the rehabilitation of Tskhinvali Region. The conference is scheduled to be held in mid June.
The host party expressed interest in the success of the reforms carried out in Georgia. Zurab Noghaideli pointed out that the Government of Georgia attaches priority to the reforms in the justice system and local self-government. As Zurab Noghaideli said, a special government commission has been set up under the Prime Minister's leadership to work out a comprehensive plan of reforms in the judicial and penitentiary systems.
The visit mostly focused on economic issues. The Prime Minister took part in the Annual Conference of European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The Prime Minister met EBRD President Jean Lemierre, Deputy Secretary of Treasury of the United States Clay Lowery, President of Black Sea Trade and Development Bank Hayrettin Kaplan, and Executive Director of Standard and Poors (a credit agency) Mr. Konrad Reuss.
The list of the particular results includes the increase of the annual investment volume of 85 million to 150 million EURO by European bank for Reconstruction and Development, the adequate measures taken by USA against the foreign (predominantly) banks operating within the territory of Abkhazia, and the improved Standard and Poors rating hopefully to be given to Georgia at the end of 2006.
The meeting with Jean Lemierre made it clear that EBRD will take part in the Georgian energy infrastructure, namely Enguri HPP and North-South Gas Pipeline rehabilitation projects. At the meeting with Clay Lowery, the parties discussed the situation in Georgia and the progress of the Millenium Challenge Action (MCA). It was noted that it is important to make timely disbursements of the program funds to enable the Government to launch phase 2 of the road infrastructure project, in the first place in Samtskhe-Javakheti Region. At the meeting with President of Black Sea Trade and Development Bank Mr. Hayrettin Kaplan, the parties discussed the situation in terms of implementation of projects in Georgia. Mr. Kaplan expressed interest in the opportunities to invest in the agrarian and banking sectors. As the BSTDB President said, the Georgian economy is one of the most attracting economies for investors.
At the investment forums held as part of the visit, the members of the Government and the businessmen operating in Georgia briefed the British party of the investment opportunities in Georgia.
As part of the Conference of European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, a country presentation for Georgia was organized, at which the Prime Minister, the Minister of Economic Development and the businessmen operating in Georgia delivered speeches, highlighting the current situation and investment opportunities in Georgia. A similar business forum was organized at the Headquarters of Merril Lynch. Attention was primarily focused on such sectors as energy, bank and tourism. The presentations brought together the representatives of the major US and European businesses. The speeches delivered by the members of the Georgian delegation evoked keen interest.
Considerable time was devoted to the country presentation on Georgia to promote Georgian culture and products, particularly Georgian wines.
On 22 May, Zurab Noghaideli opened a Georgian Glaze Exposition organized with the patronage of Nino Tsintsabadze-Noghaideli, a wife to the Prime Minister. The pieces displayed at the exposition won the approval of the audience in general and experts in particular.
On 23 May, London's Wine Museum hosted the Georgia - Cradle of Wine exhibition of Georgian wines. In addition to British businessmen and politicians, wine experts were also among those invited at the exhibition.
As part of the visit, the Prime Minister had the opportunity to attract investments to Georgia and promote Georgia wines in his interviews with the British media. Zurab Noghaideli gave interviews to such TV broadcasters as BBC, Bloomberg and SKY-News, and such newspapers as The Financial Times, The Independent, and Lloyd's List.
Zurab Noghaideli held meetings with the businessmen operating in London, including with Lakshmi Mittal, the richest businessman of Great Britain and the head of the steel industry. The Prime Minister also had a meeting with Sir Digby Jones, the General Director of Confederation of British Industry, at which the businessmen operating in Georgia were also present. After the meeting, the Prime Minister commented with satisfaction that he had heard from the British businessmen about their successful business in Georgia. According to the British businessmen, doing business in Georgia has recently been much easier and more attractive, and as a result of the fiscal reform introduced by the Government of Georgia, it has become feasible to found both domestic consumption and export-oriented companies in Georgia. It was also noted that the Government of Georgia is closely cooperating with and providing all sorts of assistance to the business sector. Mr. Jones expressed hope that the positive experience of the British businessmen in doing business in Georgia will contribute significantly to attract additional English capital to the country. It was decided that a large group of British businessmen would arrive in Georgia in the second half of the year to study the investment opportunities on site.
Prime Minister's Press Service