Pancakes and a Side of Commerce

Day 3 in Tbilisi and the jetlag has mostly worn off. Cohort IV hit the ground running Monday morning with our first round of meetings and interviews – revitalized most definitely by the delightful breakfast spread offered at Rooms Hotel. The omelet and pancake bar, along with the full array of fresh fruits, pastries, and breads will certainly be what keeps us going this week!

Beautiful breakfast at Rooms Hotel

The Georgian Chamber of Commerce and Industry graciously coordinated a panel of speakers covering topics such as conflict mediation, energy security, economic development and foreign direct investment. Most directly applicable to my research were comments from the First Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development and the President of the Georgian Chamber of Commerce.

Their conversation highlighted how the Georgian government envisions its own path forward for sustainable economic growth. Although Georgia recognizes it is a small market of only a few million people, it believes its value lies in its location. Georgia opens up access to much larger Eurasian and Central Asian markets by virtue of key free trade agreements with China, CIS countries, and the European Union. As Georgia strives to expand service exports and promote entrepreneurship domestically, it will need to attract foreign direct investment.

Presentation from the President of the Georgian Chamber of Commerce.

I look forward to spending my remaining time in Georgia looking for practical solutions to strengthen the private sector and expand industries where Georgia enjoys a competitive advantage.

-- Shauna J., Cohort 4