GOT MONEY? INVEST IN GEORGIA

A recently published World Bank survey on investing abroad in 87 different countries ranked Georgia as one of the most open economies for investors. Investor.ge is launching a new column to highlight investment successes – and future investment potential – in a full range of sectors and industries.

In the 2010 Investing Across Borders report from the World Bank, Georgia scored perfect scores on its openness to foreign investment across sectors.

Economic sectors covered in the report ranged from light manufacturing to media, and included healthcare, telecommunications and waste management.

In the South Caucasus, Georgia was the only country given perfect scores in all 11 sectors included in the report.

Georgia also scored highly in the other areas: it is one of the fastest places in the world to start a new foreign business and acquiring land is inexpensive and easy.

Despite the government’s commitment to continually reduce barriers for investors, the country is receiving less foreign direct investment (FDI) than anticipated. According to official statistics, FDI fell $75 million in the first quarter this year, compared to the same period in 2009.

In order to promote dialogue about Georgia’s investment potential, challenges – and how to overcome them – and trends, Investor.ge is launching a new column that will feature the voices of real investors talking about their successes, challenges and forecasts for specific markets, sectors and industries.

Investment in Georgia is like investment anywhere else: you need ideas and capital. But unlike everywhere else, the government has spent the past six years attempting to simplify and improve the investment climate so your dollars and lari go further, faster.

So visit us on the web, www.investor.ge, and in our bi-monthly magazine, for real talk from real people about the realities, and incredible promise, of investing in Georgia.

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