Georgia’s seaside resort town Batumi is hosting the 2015 International Investment Forum, which aims to promote a range of investment opportunities in Georgia’s key economic sectors.

Today more than 250 chairmen of leading business and financial institutions from the Caucasus region gathered to discuss with local experts the possibilities of cooperation and new investment in the country.

The one-day event was co-organised by the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara, the National Investment Agency and US-based real estate company Cushman & Wakefield | Veritas Brown.

Georgia’s Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Dimitri Kumsiashvili attended the opening ceremony with head of the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara Archil Khabadze, before he participated in discussions about Georgia’s business environment and the current positive trends.

For our country Adjara is one of the priority regions in terms of tourism. This requires gaining the interest of investors and later developing investment projects,” said Kumsiashvili.

Despite all the risks and challenges in 2014, Georgia’s economy grew 4.7 percent. This year the Government expected a further growth of two percent.

In Batumi today officials also discussed Georgia’s increasing tourism figures, which showed a positive trend over the past 24 months. More than four million tourists visited Georgia between January and August 2015 – a six percent increase on last year’s figures.

Furthermore, official data from the first half of 2015 revealed foreign investments in Georgia amounted to $530 million USD – a five percent increase on the precious year’s corresponding figures.

Investors at the event were particularly interested with the Government’s initiative to support the private sector.

Kumsiashvili addressed the audience with the Government’s new idea to promote hotels in various regions of Georgia and stressed the importance of the Silk Road Forum, which will be held in Tbilisi on October 12-16 and attended by representatives from about 600 countries.

Source:agenda.ge