PM Opens Tbilisi Belt and Road Forum
The two-day Tbilisi Belt and Road Forum started yesterday, bringing together over 1000 participants, political figures, diplomats, experts, international organizations and business sector representatives. Prime Minister of Georgia Giorgi Kvirikashvili addressed the attendees at the opening.
“It’s a great honor for us to be hosting so many delegations represented at the Tbilisi Silk Road Forum, which is held under the Tbilisi Belt and Road Forum this year,” Giorgi Kvirikashvili said, starting his speech, as he thanked all the participants of the event.
“Georgia has been historically located on an important crossroad linking western and eastern economies and cultures. For thousands of years, we’ve overcome many obstacles and managed to maintain our independence, our authenticity, all with the ability to use our potential to the maximum.” He noted.
“Today the world is facing numerous challenges, while at the same time there also are many possibilities for peaceful and stable development. The goal of our forum is to discover those possibilities, and together make further steps for the better future of our countries and our people,” Prime Minister of Georgia emphasized.
Kvirikashvili further noted that it will be a great opportunity for Georgia to participate in the process of strengthening links between the continents, adding that Georgia is hosting the Silk Road Forum for the second time, this fact underlines the strategic importance of the event, not only for the countries that participate, but also for everyone who’s interested in achievements in trade, developing infrastructure, increasing access to digital technologies and deepening the relations between people.
“The Government of Georgia, through close cooperation with its international partners, will do its best to bring a new impulse to diversifying new transport destinations, increasing their effectiveness and implementing the projects which will ensure strengthening of the links between European and Asian civilizations within the New Silk Road initiative framework” Prime Minister of Georgia stressed. He further pointed out the importance of the healthy competitiveness between the different transport corridors within the Belt and Road framework, since, as Kvirikashvili said, healthy competitiveness helps reduce the price for services, and enhances their accessibility, which subsequently increases the well-being of the citizens.
“Georgia is a country with an open economy. We’re in the 8th place in the world with economic freedom, and on 9th place in doing business ranking. Our trade regime is one of the most liberal in the world, and we have free trade regimes with all our neighbours, EU, EFTA, with the countries of Eastern Europe and Central Asia and China. We’re exploring our possibilities with India, and I would like to underline our full readiness for cooperation with all the countries represented at the forum”. Kvirikashvili said, adding that Georgia is ready to contribute to the development of the so called middle corridor of the Silk Road. Prime Minister then talked about the Baku-Tbilisi –Kars railway project, connecting Central Asian countries with European railway network through an alternative route. Kvirikashvili also talked about the Anaklia Deep Sea Port project, saying it will be of unprecedented importance with its scale on the black sea’s eastern cost, bringing brand new possibilities.
“I hope that Tbilisi Belt and Road Forum will serve as a ground for many new initiatives, and with joint efforts and cooperation, the countries of the Great Silk Road, international organizations and companies and most importantly, citizens of our countries could benefit from its great potential.” Giorgi Kvirikashvili concluded.
By Nino Gugunishvili
