On 27 April 2015 EU-Georgia Business Council (EUGBC) in close cooperation with the EU delegation to Georgia held a Business Conference in Brussels “Georgia’s new opportunities in free trade with the EU”. The conference is funded by the European Union.

Mr David Bakradze, State Minister of Georgia on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration and Director for Neighbourhood East of the European Commission (DG Neighbourhood and Enlargement), Mr. Gerhard Schumann-Hitzler welcomed the participants.

Sixty-five Georgian and EU enterprises in the Agribusiness, Construction, financial services, Textile, Tourism and other sectors had the opportunity to discuss major challenges faced since the coming into force of some provisions of the EU-Georgia Association Agreement and Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA).

The Business Conference provided a useful platform for European companies and potential investors to gain insight on business and investment climate in Georgia, at the time when Georgia is harmonizing its legislation affecting business and services.

The Conference was followed by B2B Platform and EUGBC Business Expo & Economic Photo Exhibition, where Georgian companies showcased some of their products.

The SME Roadshow Facility of East Invest Project has successfully supported the organization of a businessmen delegation visit from Georgia to Brussels (Belgium).We are glad to present the Catalogue of participating Georgian SMEs INTERNET CATALOGUE 2015.

Special Partners of the event were Eurochambres, Brussels Enterprises Commerce and Industry and Pasha Bank Georgia. The activity was organized in cooperation with the Georgian Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Economy, State Minister’s Office on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration and Embassy of Georgia to the Kingdom of Belgium.

Taking the opportunity EUGBC expresses special gratitude to the EU Delegation to Georgia for its valuable support and assistance.

Background:

The EU-Georgia Association Agreement (AA) with its Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) was signed on 27 June 2014. On 1 September 2014 large part of the Association Agreement entered provisionally into force, foreseeing far reaching political and economic integration with the EU by significantly deepening political and economic ties, bringing Georgia closer to Europe. For more information, please see:

http://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/georgia/index_en.htm

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=OJ:L:2014:261:FULL&from=EN

Programme and information about Georgian companies participating in the conference are enclosed.