An International Business Forum “Georgian Economy – Prospects and Challenges” was held by the Business Information Agency BIA at the Radisson BLU Iveria hotel in Tbilisi on March 20, 2017.
The purpose of the forum was to increase recognition of Georgia as an interesting place for doing business and contribute to attracting investors to the country.
New opportunities for the Georgian economy, infrastructural projects and investment opportunities, founding the venture capital association and discussing experience of venture capital foundations around the globe, and business development opportunities for SMEs were the main topics of the panel discussions.
The forum participants included: Roger Nay – President of “Global Investment Advisors”, Julia Belskaia – Senior Director of the rating agency Fitch, Lawrence Wright and Zack Lawrence – Venture capitalists, Jan Van Bilsen – South Caucasus Regional Manager of IFC, George Akirtava –Vice President of the leading American wealth management bank “Wells Fargo” with Georgian roots, Mersi Tambon – World Bank’s Regional Director in the South Caucasus as well as representatives of other international organizations.
Founder of the Business Information Agency and Alliance Group Holding Mr. Aieti Kukava delivered the opening address to the forum participants, followed by the Vice Prime Minister of Georgia – Minister of Finance Mr. Dimitri Kumsishvili and the Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia – Mr. Zurab Alavidze. “The main purpose of the forum is to connect the local companies with potential strategic partners in order to bring the knowhow and modern technologies into the country. We have created more opportunities for cooperation by bringing together investors and Georgian business representatives in one space.” – stated the forum host Mr. Aieti Kukava.
A Shop Fest was also organized within the scope of the forum, where Georgian businesses presented their products and services with exclusive prices to forum participants and other interested persons.
In addition, local companies held B2B meetings with foreign investors, representatives of investment banks, and entrepreneurs with assistance of BIA. Georgian companies had an opportunity to present own ways of doing business and develop export channels in order to attract financial resources and establish long term relations with foreign counterparts.
The forum host company – Business Information Agency BIA manages the largest and consistently updated database about all registered and active companies in Georgia, providing information on lucrative investment opportunities in country to foreign investors. BIA is the leading company in terms of providing analytical materials related to business profiling, marketing lists, and industrial markets to local and foreign investors.
Partners of the company were: Alliance Group Holding, King David, Pasha Bank, and as for the media partners; Businesscontract, Radio Fortuna.
