Georgia, Tbilisi, March 13 / Trend N.Kirtzkhalia /
A two-day business conference organised by the U.S. Department of commerce opened in Tbilisi. It is being held for Georgian businessmen and its main theme is the development of business and franchising.
Danica Starks, director for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia at the U.S. Department of Commerce said the purpose of the conference is to provide Georgian businessmen with information and knowledge that will help them do business in the U.S.
The conference was opened by acting U.S. Ambassador to Georgia, Bridget Brinks and tomorrow the conference will focus on franchising.
"As you know at a meeting on January 30, the presidents of Georgia and the U.S. agreed to explore possibilities of deepening trade relations and investments. In this context, the U.S. Commerce Department and U.S. Embassy organised the conference which aims to provide as much information as possible to Georgian businessmen on investing in America. Since 2005, trade between the U.S. and Georgia has increased by 125 per cent and in my opinion, our bilateral relations have great potential," Brinks said.
Georgian Deputy Minister of Economic Development Mikheil Janelidze is also attending the conference saying it is very important.
"As many as 15 experts in trade, marketing and law arrived to attend the conference. They will acquaint Georgian companies on how it is possible to do business in the U.S. and what opportunities Georgia companies have for work there. This conference will help further deepen Georgian-American investment relations," Janelidze said.
David Lee, head of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Georgia, and general director of Magticom said at the conference that business in Georgia has grown substantially over the past 10 years.
"We are ready to work with U.S. companies. A good example is Magticom, which is a business registered in the U.S.," said Lee.