On May 13th, 2014 Georgia-France Economic Forum was held at the exhibition center "Expo-Georgia". Forum was organized by the Georgian National Investment Agency, the French Embassy, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry France-Georgia and the Georgian Co-investment Fund.Representatives of the public and private sectors of Georgia and France participated in the Forum.
Prime-Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili and the French President Francois Hollande joined the event to show their support for Georgia-France business and economic relations and deliver their respective speeches.
President Holland noted, that the visit to Georgia began with the participation in Economic Forum,
as he wanted French manufacturers see at the spot and hear about the progress which Georgia has achieved. "Over the past two years as Georgia has made particular steps in regards of economic development, I witness and watch this progress and become more assured that we have lots of things to do together. Besides the political issues, strengthening economic relations is a priority for us. Georgia has many benefits regarding investors. First is steady and guaranteed framework in terms of legislation and fiscal issues which investors require everywhere and not only in Georgia. Second is its geographic location. This is the possibility for Georgia to be a transit place - place of transformations, changes. In addition, there are all conditions that in terms of availability in markets Georgia will meet not only its own but also other country's demands and finally - the third priority, the main point that it has is kind will of the government to modernize economics, make good reforms. This will encourage more interest from French manufacturers," -Francois Hollande noted.
In his turn, the Prime Minister of Georgia, during his speech, has emphasized the favorable environment and special location for business in Georgia. As he said, the country offers investors and business stable macroeconomic environment with steady sovereign balance and strong, conservative bank sector; liberal tax system with low taxes of six fixed types; developed and constantly growing transportation infrastructure for trade, logistics and producing that includes multimodal land, sea and air communications; energy resources supplied steadily and with competitive tariffs; qualified and competitively priced workforce.
Irakli Garibashvili also has discussed strengthening trade partnership between Georgia and France and has explained that for Georgia it is really important to share distinct French business experience which is effectively using innovations and modern technologies.
"The prospect of strengthening economic cooperation between our countries will increase even more and reveal new, broad opportunities after signing EU-Georgia Association Agreement and its constituent part - Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA) in June.
I strongly believe that the new opportunities, which will arise within the mentioned above Agreement, will promote deepening Georgian -French trade and investment relations," - Irakli Garibashvili stated.
Within the framework of the event Georgian government and the government of the French Republic have signed three different agreements on cooperation.
