Ambassador (Embassy of Georgia to Spain)

Last July 15th, Mrs Catherine Ashton, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the EU was in Tbilissi and talked about the possible association agreement between Georgia and the EU. Are we assisting to an historical step between the EU and Georgia?

Throughout the last couple of years serious progress was achieved in deepening of EU-Georgia relations, In this regard, I would like to underline the importance of the current intensive and decisive phase in EU-Georgia relations, which gives us significant opportunities to further strengthen of EU-Georgia relations.

In the frames of the visit to Georgia, on July 15, 2010, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security policy, Vice President of European Commission Catherine Ashton to Georgia and the President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili opened negotiation on the Association Agreement between Georgia and the EU. The forthcoming Association Agreement will replace the Partnership and Cooperation agreement between Georgia and EU and provides for the strengthening of relations in  priority fields which encompasses the relevant package of all directions for enhanced cooperation, including establishment of a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area, as its integral part.

By substituting the current PCA, the Association Agreement will reflect the dynamics of current EU-Georgia relations and provide for Georgia’s political association to and economic integration into the EU. Therefore, its conclusion is an important step forward on our European integration way.

It also should be underlined that the Visa facilitation Agreement was signed in June 2010 and will enter into force together with the readmission agreement , that serve as principle preconditions for subsequent cooperation towards gradual visa liberalization through launching EU-Georgia Dialogue that will ultimately lead Georgia to full access to the 4th freedom of movement.



Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili stated attracting FDI to Georgia is one of the main priorities for embassies. You met at the beginning of February with the representatives of 12 major Spanish companies form different sectors such as energy, transport, infrastructure, environment protection and agriculture that visited Georgia on February 9-11. The Spanish delegation stated the visit should be considered as “the commencement of an entirely new phase of economic cooperation”. Can you perceive a growing interest from Spanish companies to invest in Georgia? What are the main sectors to invest in?

One of the main priorities of our diplomacy is to support economic growth of our country , it is well known that economic diplomacy is a driving force for political development. The foreign service abroad enhance its efforts to attract foreign direct investments in our country, that is achieved through acquainting interested parties with relevant legal base and agreements, as well as through providing economic and export potential. In the view of Georgia’s economic development foreign direct investments play crucial role, especially in those priority sectors which have significant potential for economic development.

Reforms and initiatives, carried out by the Georgian Government since 2003, aiming at improving investment climate in the country produced positive results as evidenced from international studies and evaluations. The combination of dynamic economic growth, pro-business legislation, liberal tax code and strong legal framework to protect investors, presents a solid platform for successful business in Georgia. Major sectors for investments are agriculture, tourism, heavy and light industries, travel tourism, hotels , gambling  business and many other sectors for increased investment opportunities..

In February of the current year the Foreign Trade Institute of Spain ICEX organized the visit of the major Spanish business companies  to Georgia such as Socion, Alatec, Talgo, Eptisa, OHL, Isolux Corsan, Getinsa, Elencor, Inypsa, Applus. The representatives of Spanish business circles had an opportunity to meet the high representatives of  Georgian Government where they got acquainted with relevant information on our country’s economic and export potential and on the future and ongoing projects . I do hope that this kind of business tours in our Country will result in the increased flow of the Spanish investors in Georgia and furthermore  spreading their activity in the region.



According to the figures of your website, trade between Georgia and Spain decreased by 27,4% during the year 2009. What are the reasons that can explain this tendency?

First of all I would like to mention that according to the economic index of Georgia by the end of the current year GDP growth rate will reach 6%, that is considered as a positive tendency at the background of global economic crisis.

Since 2003 there has been a high growth trade in the foreign commodity turnover of Georgia, for the last few years there has also been an upward trend in number of Georgia’s trading partners.

The main reason of the trade flow decrease between Georgia is decrease of Georgian copper export and Spanish ceramic tails import. We as an Embassy will do the maximum not to come back to the previous turnover figure but to increase it.



According to the report of Doing Business, Georgia occupies one of the leading positions among economically growing countries. Also, Georgian Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze signed an agreement between Georgia and Spain on double taxation prevention and tax evasion prevention last month of June. What other benefit can Spanish companies expect when investing in Georgia? What are the competitive advantages compare to other countries of the region?

According to the report of “doing business” Georgia became the 11th on the list of top countries. The world bank hails our country as the top anticorruption performer. Among the ex- soviet countries, Georgia has the most liberal tax code, has the streamlined border clearance procedures and preferential regimes with major partners including EU, CIS countries, the US and free Trade with Turkey. Georgia is a member of WTO since 2000 and has no quantitative restrictions on trade. The existence of free industrial zones in Georgia allow international firms to operate their business in a business climate that supports international trade efficiency, while enjoying tax-free status, can export goods free of trade barriers to global markets and can export more than 7000 nomination of goods under “GSP plus” terms to the EU.

The new bilateral tax agreement, signed In June 2010 by the Foreign Ministers of our two states and the new Tax Code approved by the Georgian Parliament, coming in force from January 2011, will serve as an additional incentive and solid basis for Spanish investors and will further enhance the flow of direct investments to our country.



Georgia has many interesting touristic sites to be discovered by international travelers and the government is making efforts to promote them for example having stands in fares such as Fitur in Madrid. What are the main attractions an international traveler can expect when visiting Georgia?

The greatest challenge facing Georgia’s tourism sector today is to create and keep promoting a favorable image of the country abroad. To this end we participate in international tourism fairs and exhibitions, actively elaborates development projects for its resorts and tourist infrastructure.

Due to beautiful natural resources and ideal location our country is counting on tourism for increased economic development. Georgia boasts natural, historical, architectural and archeological highlights as part of its strong cultural heritage.

Georgia’s tourism sector offers diverse opportunities in drawing tourists interested in adventure, eco, agro, historical, wine and gourmet tours. Its culture, folklore, art and hospitality draws for increased numbers of prospective tourists.

Cultural, ecological and adventure tours in Georgia are viewed as competitive products on the international tourist markets. Georgia offers sea resorts along the Black Sea and ski resorts and mountaineering in Caucasus Range. There are also health resorts famous for their unique microclimate.

It should be mentioned that in May 2010 the Spanish audience had an opportunity to get acquainted with the archeological discoveries from Vani of Georgian National Museum, that presented spectacular gold jewelry already shown in major museums in Europe and the United States.



You have experience both in the private sector and the governor having worked for instance as president of the insurance company BCI or having being ambassador in Azerbaijan. Do you think your experience gives you the ideal background to manage to attract FDI into Georgia?

The Embassy of Georgia in Spain spares all efforts to promote the growth of the foreign direct investments’ flow to Georgia through providing information on our county’s economic potential to business circles and interested companies through organizing  the investment climate and country presentations in chambers of commerce  and different economic and tourism fairs held in different regions of Spain.