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GEORGIAN AND ARMENIAN PRESIDENTS SPEAK AT ECONOMIC FORUM
By Salome Modebadze
The Messenger
Dec 1 2011
Georgia
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili and his Armenian counterpart
Serzh Sargsyan opened a joint business forum at the Radisson Hotel
on Wednesday. Sharing Georgia's macroeconomic indicators, President
Saakashvili spoke of Georgia as one of the leading countries in
terms of the ease of doing business in the world according to World
Bank estimations. Recollecting how Georgia's damaged economy has
been restored after the Rose Revolution, Saakashvili spoke of eight
years of successful reforms in the country. Calling it "the number one
reforming country" Saakashvili forecast significant economic increases
in the country for next year "if the world economy does not collapse."
Encouraging Caucasian states to unite, the Georgian president welcomed
the long history of cooperation between Georgian and Armenian officials
at various international forums, which, according to Saakashvili has
"moved their economic integration to a higher level."
The two neighboring countries' cooperation in easing customs duty
procedures and an attempt to synthesize taxation systems should,
according to Saakashvili, end with the integration of the entire
Caucasian economy as "the only prospect for the region."
Expressing his willingness to deepen economic cooperation with Georgia,
Serzh Sargsyan encouraged Armenian businessmen to invest money in
Georgia explaining that "money should be invested where it will bring
most benefit." Sargsyan also welcomed Georgian investment in Armenia
thus tightening cooperation between the two countries.
"Georgia creates an example from which we are learning now," the
Armenian president stated.
The business forum offered a wonderful opportunity to Georgian
companies and the Armenian business sector to discuss various issues
from almost every field. According to the Minister of Regional
Development and Infrastructure Ramaz Nikolaishvili Georgian companies
would be able to participate in tenders in Armenia from the next
year onwards. "We have also familiarized Armenian companies with
the procedures necessary for participating in Georgian tenders,"
the minister added.
"The participation of the presidents in the economic forum emphasized
the strong political and economic relations between the two countries,"
Vera Kobalia, Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development,
stated. Stressing how the annual trade turnout had increased over
the past ten months, Kobalia reported that exports had reached USD
185 million this year. Expressing interest in the Georgian economy,
the Armenian guests also welcomed the country's rapid success in the
last several years and hoped that by entering each other's markets
the countries would even further improve their economies.
By Salome Modebadze
The Messenger
Dec 1 2011
Georgia
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili and his Armenian counterpart
Serzh Sargsyan opened a joint business forum at the Radisson Hotel
on Wednesday. Sharing Georgia's macroeconomic indicators, President
Saakashvili spoke of Georgia as one of the leading countries in
terms of the ease of doing business in the world according to World
Bank estimations. Recollecting how Georgia's damaged economy has
been restored after the Rose Revolution, Saakashvili spoke of eight
years of successful reforms in the country. Calling it "the number one
reforming country" Saakashvili forecast significant economic increases
in the country for next year "if the world economy does not collapse."
Encouraging Caucasian states to unite, the Georgian president welcomed
the long history of cooperation between Georgian and Armenian officials
at various international forums, which, according to Saakashvili has
"moved their economic integration to a higher level."
The two neighboring countries' cooperation in easing customs duty
procedures and an attempt to synthesize taxation systems should,
according to Saakashvili, end with the integration of the entire
Caucasian economy as "the only prospect for the region."
Expressing his willingness to deepen economic cooperation with Georgia,
Serzh Sargsyan encouraged Armenian businessmen to invest money in
Georgia explaining that "money should be invested where it will bring
most benefit." Sargsyan also welcomed Georgian investment in Armenia
thus tightening cooperation between the two countries.
"Georgia creates an example from which we are learning now," the
Armenian president stated.
The business forum offered a wonderful opportunity to Georgian
companies and the Armenian business sector to discuss various issues
from almost every field. According to the Minister of Regional
Development and Infrastructure Ramaz Nikolaishvili Georgian companies
would be able to participate in tenders in Armenia from the next
year onwards. "We have also familiarized Armenian companies with
the procedures necessary for participating in Georgian tenders,"
the minister added.
"The participation of the presidents in the economic forum emphasized
the strong political and economic relations between the two countries,"
Vera Kobalia, Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development,
stated. Stressing how the annual trade turnout had increased over
the past ten months, Kobalia reported that exports had reached USD
185 million this year. Expressing interest in the Georgian economy,
the Armenian guests also welcomed the country's rapid success in the
last several years and hoped that by entering each other's markets
the countries would even further improve their economies.