Foreign Investments issue

From 2008, the volume of foreign direct investments into Georgia’s economy has decreased. In 2008/2009 there were serious outside factors, Russian aggression against Georgia and the world economic crisis. In 2010 however the situation did not improve and Georgia received 3.5% less investment than in 2007. In the first quarter of 2011, the situation did not improve radically at all and this takes place even though the Georgian authorities permanently boast about the allegedly great investment environment in the country. In 2004-2010 the biggest investor in Georgia was Great Britain (presumably because of BP activities) it invested USD 800 mln, then comes UAE – USD 626 mln and The Netherlands – USD 599 mln, followed by USA, Turkey and Virgin Islands. The transport and communications spheres are the most attractive spheres of investment followed by industry and the energy sector. Recently the energy sector will have had more investments because agreements were reached for constructing hydro electro power stations in the country. These are the general figures of investments in Georgia for the last years: 2004- USD 500 mln, 2005 – USD 450 mln, 2006- USD 1. 19 bln, 2007 – USD 2.014 bln, 2008 – USD 1.564 bln, 2009- USD 658 mln and 2010 USD 453 mln.