Investments decreasing

In the first half of 2009 investments in Georgia fell by 80% compared with the same period of last year. According to the Ministry of Economy Georgia received approximately USD 226 million in investments in the reporting period whereas last year it received USD 1.14 billion. Analysts explain this by citing the global financial crisis and the Russian aggression.

The assistance allotted by donor countries and organisations after the war has partially compensated for lost investments but this assistance has very clear targets. It is designed for restoring damaged infrastructure, assisting IDPs and so on, not for the creation of a sustainable business environment attractive to investors.