On 28 January 2016, The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC-Georgia) held its 11th Consultative Board Meeting at Holiday Inn. Print
Friday, 29 January 2016 11:36

On 28 January 2016, The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC-Georgia) held its 11th Consultative Board Meeting at Holiday Inn. His Excellency Mr. Giorgi Kvirikashvili Prime Minister of Georgia was attended the meeting as a special guest and addressed ICC members and Board Members. The Agenda included a presentation by the Prime Minister regarding the business and the investment climate in Georgia and the perspectives for 2016 as well as a talk by H.E. Mr. Janos Herman Head of the EU delegation regarding the visa liberalization and its impact on the bilateral relations between Georgia and the EU. Mr. Nam kyun Kim from K Water  presented a major investment that their company was developing in Georgia, Mr. Fady Asly Chairman of ICC covered the major impediments to business and the way to solve them. The event was opened and moderated by the Chairman of ICC Georgia Mr. Fady Asly. His Excellency Mr. Giorgi Kvirikashvili Prime Minister of Georgia and His Excellency Mr. Dimitry Kumsishvili, Vice-Prime Minister and Minister of Economic Development attended the meeting as special guests. Prime Minister Kvirikashvili addressed ICC members and Board Members. Prime Minister Kvirikashvili overviewed the current challenges to business and expressed his willingness to be a staunch supporter of a healthy business climate in Georgia. Mr. Fady Asly Chairman of ICC has discussed the major impediments to business. He presented specific cases of companies that are harassed by the Revenue Service and requested Prime Minister Kvirikashvili to take necessary action to stop freezing of bank accounts and other detrimental practices followed by the financial enforcement bodies. “The Revenue Service and the Financial Police are by far the number one impediment to the investment and business climate in Georgia” said ICC chairman. H.E. Mr. Janos Herman- Ambassador of the European Union to Georgia gave a speech regarding the visa liberalization and its impact on the bilateral relations between Georgia and the EU.  Mr. Choi, Byoung Seub – CEO of JSC Nenskra Hydro has presented a “JSC Nenskra Hydro investments project” that their company is developing in Georgia.  Mr. Ilia Gogichaishvili- chairman of ICC Georgia Banking Commission gave an overview regarding the ICC Banking Commission Global Annual Meeting, that will be held in Tbilisi, Georgia, autumn, 2018.  “We are very glad and honored that Prime Minister Kvirikashvili has attended our Consultative Board Meeting and has shared with our members and Board Members his economic program for the upcoming period; we fully trust Prime Minister Kvirikashvili and we are confident that he will tackle in the shortest terms the major hurdles that are damaging the investment climate in the country” said Fady Asly, ICC Chairman.  During the meeting, the 6th edition of “ICCommerce” magazine has been released; a reception supported by ICC Georgia sponsoring member “Adjara Group Hosipitality” followed the Consultative Board Meeting. More than one hundred fifty ICC members and guests attended the event from various businesses, political and diplomatic circles,  the 11th Consultative Board Meeting was also attended the Secretary General of International Investors Association of Georgia and the Director of ICC Ajara Mr. Osman Chalishkan ( Mzhavanadze ). The ICC Consultative Board is the only body of its kind in Georgia, consisting of the extend ICC Executive Board as well as eight ambassadors in addition to the Heads of three major international financial institutions and three major international organizations. The purpose of the Consultative Board is to bring together members of both the International community and the business community on a quarterly basis to discuss the business and investment climate in the country. The issues raised are subsequently advocated to the government through a multi-pronged approach by the ICC stakeholders to effect positive change in the business and investment climate. ICC Georgia is the largest and most vocal global Business Association, it includes over 350 corporate and youth members and 28 business associations. The International Chamber of Commerce is the largest business organization in the world including over 6.5 million business members and over 12,000 chambers of commerce; ICC consults regularly at the global level with the G8, G20, the World Bank, WTO, WCO and the UN.