BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 24
By Tamilla Mammadova – Trend:
Over the next few years, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) plans to step up its work in Georgia, supporting businesses to create jobs and drive economic growth, Jan van Bilsen, the IFC Regional Manager for the South Caucasus told Trend.
"We will focus on the agricultural sector, where we hope to boost productivity and help Georgian producers enter new markets", Bilsen said.
According to Bilsen, IFC is also exploring opportunities to improve Georgia’s transport infrastructure, including roads, railways, and ports, through public-private partnerships.
"We will continue to support development of Georgia’s banking sector and capital markets, which are both crucial sources of financing for businesses. In particular, we want to foster Georgia’s nascent corporate bond market. We’ll also continue to help banks reach out to small and medium-sized enterprises", Bilsen said.
According to Bilsen, these businesses are the backbone of Georgia’s economy, but they often struggle to get the financing they need to grow.
"Finally, we plan to continue helping Georgia tap into its renewable energy potential and help local companies save energy,” Bilsen added.
As Bilsen noted, a lot remains to be done in the years ahead, but Georgia’s success over the last two-and-half decades shows that this country is up to the task.
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