MEDEFI Representatives Visit Georgia to Discuss Business Cooperation
By Khatia Bzhalava
Thursday, November 18
On November 15, a high-level multi-sector business delegation - the French Business Confederation (MEDEFI) visited Georgia, led by the CEO of French engineering company Egis, Laurent Germain.
The visit aimed at identifying new opportunities for business cooperation between France and Georgia, mostly focusing on transportation, engineering, renewable energy, tourism, finance and urban development.
On November 16, the French Ambassador to Georgia H.E. Diego Colas and the Head of the Delegation Laurent Germain held a press meeting addressing the questions of the journalists. It was stressed at the meeting that 29 French companies wish to focus more on investing in Georgia.
According to the ambassador, the point of the business cooperation is to make Georgia closer to Europe. As he noted, when businesses invest in Georgia they bring a European style of competition and a European approach of treating customers while providing services.
The head of the delegation pointed out three reasons why companies invest in a country, which are microeconomic stability, the country's attractiveness, and having a large pipeline of projects, stressing that Georgia meets all the conditions above. According to him, the economic stability and positive forecast of the country is what makes Georgia so attractive to French companies. He also stressed that the tax burden for the companies is lower in Georgia than in many parts of the world and the price competitiveness of the labor force is higher.
It was also stressed at the press conference that one of the reasons why French investors wish to work in Georgia is the fact that the environment in the country is business-friendly, while many countries and governments are less open to businesses.
“it is very easy to create a company in Georgia as it takes a few days when in some other countries it takes months to open a company” the head of the MEDEFI delegation stressed.
Within the framework of the visit, the delegation met with the representatives of the government, including the President of Georgia, Prime Minister, Ministers of Economy, Interior, Agriculture and Finance, as well as the representatives of the National Bank of Georgia and international donors.
