The President of Georgia attended the national business award ceremony “Mercury-2012” which is being held for the second time in Georgia. Mikheil Saakashvili addressed the businessmen and the attending audience and spoke to them about the importance of this project.

Mikheil Saakashvili drew attention to the ongoing and planned constructions and noted that an incredible number of construction projects have begun within the last 3 years in Georgia. The Head of State focused attention on successful cooperation of business and the state. According to him, business has contributed to this greatly; however, the state is assisting it in every way in terms of communications and infrastructural projects.

Mikheil Saakashvili named the projects that are currently underway in Georgia. According to him, the rehabilitation process can be assessed by the projects that in process such as, communication, infrastructure, new transport hubs and highways, resort zones, new cities, the new parliament, new institutions, hospitals, education facilities and etc. he also focused attention on the military production that has been going on in Georgia since 2008.

The leader of Georgia also touched on the development of business and noted that Georgia is distinguished in this regard as well.

According to the President’s statement, aside from the economic projects it is important that a society of equal opportunities is being created in Georgia and everything is based on the principle of equality. He named the new law passed by the parliament as an example. According to the legislation appointment of employees in public office and state structures will happen through competition.

Mikheil Saakashvili also focused on the issue of employment and noted that the government is doing everything in order to overcome this problem once and for all. As he noted, unemployment will decrease by 10 % by the 2015 modernization plan.

After his speech the President personally awarded the winner in the nomination, “Business of the year”.

“Mercury 2012” is a joint project of the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia and the Investment Agency. There were winners in 18 nominations of the national business awards. The number of nominations and participant companies has grown considerably since last year. This time the exhibition center “Expo Georgia” hosted the business forum.