South Caucasus business specialists seek ways to boost investment climate, at OSCE-funded conference in Georgia

TBILISI, 4 November 2006 - Economic specialists are looking at ways to improve the business climate in the southern Caucasus at a conference supported by the OSCE Mission to Georgia, which began today in Tbilisi.

Specialists and government representatives from Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia are analyzing the current investment climate and will draw up recommendations for improvement.

At the two-day event, participants will complete a comprehensive 'score-card', rating the business environment for ease of starting a business, workforce management, property registration, access to credit, protecting investors, enforcing contracts and closing businesses.

"Business development is crucial to underpin economic development in Georgia and the region,"said Ambassador Roy Reeve, Head of the OSCE Mission.

"At this conference, we will take a snapshot of the business climate for the region as a whole. By doing so, we hope to foster dialogue that will improve trade, foster economic integration, and promote investment for all countries in the southern Caucasus. Through such regional economic integration, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia can all be winners."

The event is part of a wider OSCE Mission initiative to promote economic development in Georgia by supporting dialogue, policy development and co-operation. The conference is also funded by the United States Agency for International Development and the Eurasia Foundation.

The event was organized by the South Caucasus Co-operation Programme, the Eurasia Foundation and the Georgian Ministry of Economic Development, in co-operation with the non-governmental organizations, CASE-Transcaucasus (Georgia), CSERA (Armenia), and FAR Centre (Azerbaijan).