Greetings!

I had opened this factory together with you in 2006.

Since I have heard that your factory is facing some problems I came directly here.

We had great expectations in 2006 and the majority became true - we had constructed a very powerful oven, the great factory for metal constructions.

We had many orders from existing enterprises around Georgia, but these recent events unfortunately is neither your fault nor the separate event happening just in Georgia.

We have passed through the August war so that Russia's economy has almost collapsed, while Georgia's economy has undergone almost no changes in September and October.

In mid-November the world economic crisis entered into Georgia with its full scale. The world has not seen such crisis since 1930s. The world credit system is paralyzed and it will certainly have a serious influence on Georgia.

The Government does not exist for opening ceremonies only, the real responsible government stands where the problems are created ad shares these problems with its people.

Today we have one mission - to save and maintain Georgian economy.

We went through a very difficult economic crisis in 90s, 1993-1994 during the war in Abkhazia and in 1998, when Russia hit the Georgian economy.

In 93-94 the whole infrastructure, financial-credit system had collapsed, national currency experienced big inflation, foreign money had disappeared, it was darkness in our homes, heating systems were destroyed, the natural gas was no more available where it was before that.

This was a catastrophic collapse of Georgian economy.

There were long cues on bread, people were freezing and dying from hunger.

This was when there was no crisis around the world.

In 1998 the finance system experienced collapse, it hit Asia and Russia and at the same time damaged Georgian economy. This type of crisis had never happened during 60 years.

Despite this crisis, we will ensure that the energy flow will never stop, this is why we have five year agreement with Azerbaijan.

Our hydro and energy plants are ready for this winter - each Georgian family will have electricity permanently. This is a very important factor to keep the frame of our economy.

Because we had invested several hundred million dollars in energy sector, we had eliminated corruption, and we are still keeping our promise within the 50-months program that 80 percent of population will have natural gas.

We will fulfill this, gasification continues with the same tempo, like we thought it would before the world crisis started. The other issue is to maintain Georgian credit system.

Ukraine, Hungary, Latvia are facing severe problems in banking system.

In series of countries currency experienced 30-40-50 percent collapse.

We were able to keep our currency firm. This process can be controlled.

Our banks were able to stand firm during this crisis.

Next year we are getting 400-500 million dollar assistance for banking system, it will take about 5-6 months.

We will improve this system, save, maintain and strengthen it.

Our major challenge and priority is to maintain qualified cadre.

We are starting to receive assistance from Europe and US next year.

Everything is problematic in those countries as well, but finally, closer we get to these countries, they will come out from this crisis and so would we.

We have a plan, a vision, we do not have time to tired and exhausted.

This is time for mobilization and as never before, time for energetic movements.

I want you to know! We are developing Sighnaghi, we are developing Batumi and Kutaisi, we will start to reconstruct old Tbilisi.

We were able to give homes to those people who were displaced by Russians, their homes are heated, they have electricity and peace of land.

This is our way out from crisis.

Next six months will be very difficult for our economy, but we are expecting that the tendencies will improve. In terms of economic growths our main priority will be to solve and save economy.

We are smart people and we understand that all of this is possible only by the political stabilization, by dialogue and by active moves of government.

During economic challenges we are facing a threat that corruption will be restored, but we will not let it happen.

We will receive free trade agreement with the United States. This is a very important agreement. Nobody throughout this region has such agreement. U.S. Senator John Kerry has recently visited Georgia and we have discussed this issue in details that in the near future we will receive free trade agreement with the United States.

We have a very difficult period now, this factory is not working like it was several months ago, but all of us together have to save everything and we will see what kind of factories we will have during upcoming years.

Let's take each others hands, lets stand together, holed each others hands and maintain our budget system.

Despite all difficulties, we will find a very special place, which we have to have in the world economy, to raise Georgia up.

If in a year, starting from today, we all say that we have managed to save and maintain our economy, this will mean that Georgia has taken the first big step towards victory.

If in two years we say that economic growth is back and that Georgia has overcome the current crisis, it will mean that all the perspectives will be opened for us, because the way towards Georgia's territorial integration, towards better future passes through how we will manage to maintain and strengthen our state and our economy.

We have not rejected any of our strategic tasks; simply the existing difficulties have changed our plans.

We will get new orders together with you.

During last two months Rustavi municipality was able to save 150 jobs.

Finally tourism industry will return, orders will grow and It depends how will we face this level, our future will be sufficient.

I have tasked my government to develop a legislative and financial package on how to save Georgia's economy.

We all have to stand on the peace frontiers.

I want to thank you for your patience.

I will not let any official put his head into the sand like an ostrich. This is the main challenge, which each state official is facing today.

I am sure Georgia will raise - it depends how we will work!

I hope in your patience, work and talent.

Thank you very much!

Communications Office
of the President of Georgia