President Saakashvili addresses Latvia-Georgia business forum participants

10/5/2005

President Mikheil Saakashvili and the President of the Republic of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga attended Latvia-Georgia business forum at the hotel Tbilisi Marriot. President Saakashvili addressed the businessmen gathered at the forum. 
"Georgia together with Ukraine has been established as a country with the European mentality. Georgia will definitely become a member of the EU and NATO. This is a very good impetus for the economy to develop. Recently many Kazakh businessmen visited Georgia. They are going to invest large amount in the development of infrastructure and tourism in Georgia. 

Basically there is a real competition over the Georgian plants. 

There are good trends in the field of agriculture, tourism, energy sector as well as in the development of small and medium business in Georgia. 

New international airports are being built in Tbilisi and Batumi. At the first stage our aim was to eradicate corruption in the state apparatus. The second stage is about the development of infrastructure, roads and energy sector. 

This year for the first time Georgia theoretically would not have electricity shortage. 

We are building several tens of kilometers of roads. Next year there will be a good road in every center of the region. The problem of roads will be absolutely eradicated in Tbilisi. 

Soon we are starting building a new road that will connect Tbilisi with Gori. The aim of Georgia is to develop infrastructure and give freedom to the businessmen. We absolutely ensure their security. 

We welcome your interest in the Georgian economy. We will do the utmost to insure that none of you have any problem with your Georgian counterparts. It is important for us to set the examples of success. If ten Latvian businessmen are successful this year, it means that tomorrow fifty of them will be successful. Accordingly, we will give all the incentives to the Georgian businessmen to get occupied with business in Latvia. 

Wish you all the success in your work.

Thank you".



Communications Office
of the President of Georgia