By Roy Lie A Tjam.
The year 2015 has been a busy one for the Embassy of Georgia in the Netherlands. Events have included National Day, the Embassy Art Exhibition, and most recently the Netherlands Georgia Business Forum at the Hilton on 24 November 2015.
The Business Forum was a joint effort which brought together various stakeholders: the EU-Georgia Business Council, Georgian Embassy to the Netherlands, PUM Netherlands senior experts, CBI, Netherlands Council for Trade Promotion (NCH), and EUROCHAMBRES.
A sizeable contingent of Georgian business leaders also made the voyage to The Hague in order to support the Forum.
The welcome remarks were given by H.E. Ambassador Zviad Chumburidze, from the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and EU-Georgia Business Council. Other speakers included Mr. Gigi Gigiadze, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia; Mr. Carel Richter, Head of International Business, MFA the Netherlands; and Mr. Johannes (Jos) Douma, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Netherlands to Georgia. Mr. David Lee, President of Magticom, moderated the event.
Several interesting presentations were given on the investment climate and opportunities in Georgia, followed by a lively Q&A session. The event concluded with a B2B Platform, EU-Georgia Business Council Expo and economic photo exhibition, and a networking lunch offered by NVG Georgia.
Georgia offers Dutch investors a variety of opportunities to invest in the country’s fast-growing sectors – these include agribusiness, hydro power, manufacturing, logistics and tourism. Investors will benefit from a liberal tax system, liberal trade regime, access to a customs-free market of 900 million people (EURASIA), excellent banking system, good energy supply, competitively priced labor force and a DCFTA with the EU.
By means of anti corruption legislation, effective law enforcement and free access to online registration, the Georgian economy promotes transparency and reduces bureaucracy.
The country has also won the UN Public Service Award, the most prestigious international recognition of excellence in public service.
Such an achievement puts Georgia in good stead internationally.
The Ambassador of Georgia to the Netherlands, H.E. Mr. Konstantine Surguladze, and his team are to be commended for the efforts they made in putting together the highly successful event.
